Table tennis player Heming Hu is preparing to make his Olympic debut in Rio, more than 15 years after he started playing the sport in the garage of his family home in Melbourne.
While his skills with a paddle are world class, he admits he's the most superstitious athlete on the Australian Olympic team.
His rituals include tightening his shoelaces, wiping down the table before a match and even bringing his own ruler to measure the net to ensure it's at regulation height.
He said his list of rituals would rival even Rafael Nadal, who is renowned for going through several set movements on court before a point.
"All these rules, I have to wear whatever shirt I win I have wear the next day, I have to play in the same colour, I have to wipe my hand on the table every point, all these stupid ones," Hu said.
"I could be here all day telling you."
But the results speak for themselves.
Heming Hu measures the net Source: SBS
Raised in Melbourne's east, Hu started the sport at the age of seven playing his brother in his parents' garage.
Since that time he's won numerous competitions, and last February, he earned his chance to compete at the Rio Olympics at the qualifying event in Queensland.
"I think I cried for the first time in a long time in a good way, and it was the most relieving and happy feeling I've had in my career yet," he said describing the moment he qualified.
But the reaction from his mum and dad was a little more subdued.
Hu said while he knew his parents were thrilled that their son would be competing at an Olympics, they tried not to show it.
"I think it's more of a tradition in China and Asia as well just to keep their kids humble, they don't really show their emotions as much as you westerners," he said.
Hu spent almost two years in China refining his game and admits the training environment there is very different from Australia.
"It's full on, I shouldn't say this but players are getting hit," he said.
"It's because the coaches would be like family to them because their parents send them away to train."
While Olympic selection has easily been a career highlight, Hu said qualification was just the first step and his biggest challenge is yet to come.
Heming Hu at practice Source: SBS
He said the team wasn't counting on breaking Australia's medal drought in the sport, as they face the Asian powerhouse's of table tennis.
"Any win's a win in Rio, because we're playing against the best countries in the world," he said.
Hu would like more funding for the sport in Australia, but he admits he's living the dream when it comes to professional table tennis
After Rio, he's taking up a contract to compete in the German leagues.
"This is a very good life and I realise how lucky I am to do this," he said.
And he'll be doing all he can to ensure that luck continues.
