It looms as one of the great swimming comebacks.
Grant Hackett is doing quite well, too.
At 34, dual Olympic champion Hackett is on the verge of a stunning 2015 world titles call-up after cruising into the 200m freestyle final at the Australian titles in Sydney on Saturday night in his first major meet in seven years.
Yet Hackett's thoughts were with training partner Daniel Smith after the reformed drug addict remarkably topped qualifying in one of the great 200m fields ever assembled in Australia.
Barely 12 months after the ex-child prodigy returned to the pool, the once homeless Smith clocked one minute, 47.08 seconds to incredibly top the 200m timesheets ahead of Sunday night's final.
Hackett was pleased with qualifying third fastest (1:47.42).
And he appears odds-on to earn a stunning 2015 world titles team relay berth with a top-six finish in the final.
Not bad for a 34-year-old in his first major meet since the 2008 Olympics armed with just six months' training.
But Hackett seemed happiest for Smith, who 12 months ago had to borrow training partner Thomas Fraser-Holmes' cap to compete at last year's nationals.
Hackett could empathise with Smith's struggle after he went through a much publicised battle with sleeping pill addiction as his personal life unravelled last year.
"Dan has had a pretty challenging life," Hackett said.
"I know I have had my challenges in a different sort of way so there is a respect there for each other.
"We support each other each day."
But Smith - armed with his own personalised swimming cap these days - said Hackett was now his inspiration.
"Grant is a perfect example of what anyone is capable of," he said.
"I have had doubts but I see what Grant has done... and that has lifted me up."
Still buzzing from a surprise 400m freestyle bronze on Friday night, Hackett was pinching himself after his top three 200m qualifying finish.
"I am just keeping an open mind," he said.
"I really didn't think a final was possible here, so I can't even believe we are talking about a (world titles) team or putting myself in this position.
"I could seriously finish up right now and be happy."
Meanwhile, Glasgow Commonwealth Games golden girl Emma McKeon (57.31 PB) claimed her maiden 100m butterfly national title.
Defending champion Alicia Coutts - a five time London Olympic medallist - admitted she was contemplating retirement after battling a shoulder complaint to finish third (57.77).
However, she may resurrect her world titles selection hopes in the 100m freestyle.
She dropped her 200m medley commitment to focus on the 100m butterfly in Sydney.
"I was going to retire 12 weeks ago so I'm really lucky to be here," she said.
And world champion Christian Sprenger is also re-thinking his future after being forced to rely on discretionary powers to make the world titles team following his 100m breaststroke effort.
Sprenger, 29, (one minute, 00.67 seconds) was second behind Jake Packard (1:00.37) - but both times fell short of team selection criteria.
In other finals on Saturday night, Emily Seebohm won the 200m individual medley title and Jayden Hadler sealed 50m butterfly gold.
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