For a two-time defending champion, Australia's Mitch Larkin sure has modest expectations at the world swimming championships at Budapest.P
Larkin turned the 2015 world titles in Russia into his breakout meet, becoming just the fourth person in history to claim the 100m-200m backstroke double.P
It earned him FINA Male Swimmer of the Year honours.P
How times have changed.P
Larkin admitted he was at least a year away from executing a race plan under new coach Simon Cusack after qualifying sixth fastest for Tuesday night's 100m backstroke final despite clocking his year's fastest time - 53.19 seconds.P
China's Xu Jiayu dominated the field in 52.44 after threatening the world record in Monday night's semi-finals.P
Then there's Americans Ryan Murphy - the world record holder - and his revitalised veteran teammate Matt Grevers lurking in the final.P
Larkin has constantly been reminded of his dual world title defence at Budapest but admitted it was unlikely to happen.P
And for now, that's OK with him.
The Brisbane-based backstroker said the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games looked more like a meet he would make a statement under Cusack, the man who groomed the world-beating Campbell sisters.P
"You guys like to bring it (defence) up a lot but it doesn't bother me," Larkin said.P
"Winning two gold was an incredible achievement and to replicate it would be pretty amazing.P
"But I am not quite in the shape I was in 2015.P
"It's not likely but anything is possible.P
"My goals are to set a base with Simon, finding out what we need and Commonwealth Games will be a big one and go from there."P
Larkin dropped a bombshell after the 2015 world titles when he cut ties with coach Michael Bohl in a bid to reach another level.P
It backfired at the Rio Olympics where the red-hot favourite missed the 100m podium but hung on for 200m silver.P
Still, Larkin was convinced he was on the right track with Cusack.P
"He just needs to find out what I need and figure me out a bit more as an athlete, but I expected that," he said.P
"I will say something is hard but his idea of hard is different.P
"We have to work out what each other wants but I am excited about the future."P
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