Australian sprinter Alex Hartmann isn't planning on leaving the Rio 2016 Games with a medal so he already has another reward in mind for competing at his first Olympics.
Up against the likes of Usain Bolt, who Hartmann says would smash him, the Queenslander is using the Rio Games to gain experience on the world stage and is aiming for a semi-final berth.
The 23-year-old is Australia's first male sprinter in the 200m event since the Athens 2004 Olympics.
"I don't want to get run out in my heat so to make the semi-final is the goal and if we can progress further than there, even better," Hartmann said.
"I think I'm ranked 48 in the world so I definitely have to improve quite a bit to get a semi-final spot but I'm very confident I can."
Hartmann won't be rushing out to buy himself anything special if he does - he'll be off to the athletes' village food hall.
"I really like the massive eat-all-you-want food halls," he said.
"I'll be behaved until the event and then I will go nuts.
"Just competing in front of a massive crowd, and it's the Olympics (will be enough reward), you can't beat it."
The long-striding Hartmann has dreamed of competing at the Olympics since he was a child, saying he never contemplated any sport other than athletics.
He hasn't had it easy - working at Big W until just prior to 12 months ago to fund his athletics as well as relying on his mum, Petra.
He said his savings were almost cleaned out so hoped a big performance in Rio would help secure some more funding.
Hartmann won the 100m event at Australia's Olympic trials in the absence of Josh Clarke, who had qualified earlier in the year.
Hartmann missed the qualification time but believed concentrating only on the 200m could be a blessing.
"Being able to train solely for the 200m will be beneficial so I can improve my endurance for the second half of the race," he said.
He has mixed feelings about being drawn in the same heat as two-time 200m Olympic champion and world record holder Bolt.
"To meet or race him would be a privilege.
"Of course he will smash you but it would be a privilege."
Share
