World champion breaststroker Christian Sprenger sees age as a challenge - not a barrier - as he eyes off gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Sprenger was 27 when he claimed gold in the 100m breaststroke at the World Championships in Barcelona last year.
The late bloomer will be 30 by the time Rio rolls around, but he's confident he can maintain his high standards until then.
"I see it as a challenge, but I don't necessarily see it as something that's a negative," Sprenger said.
"A lot of people thought it couldn't be done - to win a World Championship at 27.
"But I still have a lot of potential in myself and a lot of speed to discover.
"Historically breaststroke has always been more of a power stroke.
"I guess males develop strength and muscle late into their 20s.
"There's been some great breaststrokers that have gone on to win World Championship and Olympic medals at 28, 29.
"In 2005 there was a guy from Germany who won the 50m breaststroke and he was 35."
Sprenger will be back in action this week at the Aquatic Super Series in Perth, where Australia's best swimmers will unite to take on Brazil, China, Japan and South Africa.
But one man who won't be there is South African Cameron van der Burgh, who pipped Sprenger to win gold at the 2012 London Games.
"I believe he's in some pretty heavy training at this point in time," Sprenger said of van der Burgh, who pulled out of the Perth event earlier this month.
"He did have a bit of a break over Christmas, so that would warrant him needing to get back in the water to prepare for 2014."
Sprenger still faces some tough opposition in the form of Brazilian Felipe Lima, who won bronze at last year's World Championships.
World champion freestyle ace James Magnussen will also appear in Perth as part of a strong Australian team also featuring the likes of Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell and Emily Seebohm.
Sprenger said the Super Series was a good team-bonding event ahead of this year's Commonwealth Games.
"It was so successful last year, and it really set us on a high standard leading into 2013," Sprenger said.
"Going into the World Championships we really performed well.
"So having these meets on home soil to race international competition gives us a chance to come together as a team and gives us a taste of what the rest of the year is going to look like."
Share
