PARIS (France) - Just when we thought we had seen it all, Belgium pulled off one of the most sensational victories in modern Olympic basketball history and of course, Emma Meesseman had to be at the center of it.
Having endured the misery of an opening defeat to Germany and then a gutsy but perhaps inevitable loss to title favorites USA, the chances of the Cats making it to the French capital were slim - to say the least.
The 'Miracle of Lille'
It was made even more painful by losing in front of incredible Belgian fans at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. So many, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was Liege, rather than Lille.
Only an extraordinary 27-point victory against Japan would ensure they would not fall victim to 'The Group of Death'.
In a performance for the ages, Meesseman produced one of her greatest ever displays to spearhead one of Belgium's most incredible wins. It was an unlikely 85-58 triumph that will live in Belgian Basketball folklore forever.
"It's a little miracle I think, and I'm pretty realistic too - not pessimistic, just realistic," mused Meesseman when reflecting on the jaw-dropping accomplishment.
It was one that also included her making Olympic history as she extended her amazing scoring streak of more than 20 points to seven games. "After Germany, I knew it was going to be really hard. So for me it was really hard to re-charge myself," continued the forward.
"But as soon as I saw the crowd, I was like 'okay, now I know who I need to do it for now'. For those fans, for ourselves, for Belgium.
"It's still the Olympics and you want to enjoy it and go maybe home with your head held high. But then all of a sudden you do it [get the win].
"It's insane," confessed Meesseman, still in disbelief when thinking about what happened.
A do-and-hair dye game
While it would be easy for Meesseman to have said that she always believed and didn't have any doubts, she was brutally honest about what she truly felt.
I was saying I will dye my hair if we go to the Quarter-Finals - I was going all out.
She revealed: "I knew we had to win by 27 or more. Before [the game] I think my teammates were actually believing it more. "I was saying I will dye my hair if we go to the Quarter-Finals - I was going all out. Maybe it helped me just stay free [in my mind] and just enjoy it. "We knew it was going to be almost impossible because Japan is a great team. I think some people wanted to go through different scenarios and I was like 'no, I don't want to know'. I am just going to go all out," added Meesseman.
"I was pretty focused on just having the experience of the game. I was enjoying it no matter what number we needed to have.
"It was a roller-coaster week and I have never had one like that - not as extreme." Of course now everyone is wondering if they will see her with bright blonde hair when her team faces Spain in the Quarter-Finals in Bercy?
"No, maybe after Paris. I think it's bad luck to change your hair halfway through a tournament," laughed Meesseman.
Cats' fans the difference-makers
When the Belgian ace was told in the post-game mixed zone about her Olympic scoring record, Meesseman was quick to explain only one element of the 'Miracle of Lille' will live with her forever.
To really dream is to dream about full gyms of people coming for you
And, it won't be her record, the performance, or maybe even the scale of victory. "The record is not the thing I will remember," she insisted. "You know, you dream of performances, you dream of medals, you dream of titles and I would say to kids they should dream of that, but to really dream is to dream about full gyms of people coming for you."
"Dream of the feeling you want to have when you're standing in the middle of all those fans around you.
"I can't describe it - honestly, and this is what I will always remember about these Olympics," enthused Meesseman.
From the cliff edge to the podium?
Now Belgium have another shot at success after stepping back from the cliff edge, could they really now land on an Olympic podium for the first time?
"Since the USA game I am just living in the moment," stressed Meesseman.
"I am really happy for it. When you enjoy it and we do that as a team, Belgium plays best. We have to enjoy it now whatever happens."
Ready to go up against Spain in Wednesday's Quarter-Finals, their first foes on the road to medals. And, such has been the impact of the Cats' supporters so far, can they continue to inspire their beloved team? "I am already thinking about needing to make some little calls now for the people to come to Paris," smiled Meesseman.
FIBA