Matthew Hauser is sure he hasn't peaked too soon, the freshly-crowned world triathlon champion now eyeing off one of Australia's greatest Olympic hoodoos.
The 27-year-old completed a dominant world series triumph, Australia's first in 15 years, with victory in Wollongong's finale a fortnight ago.
The Queenslander is far from satisfied though, with a historic medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics still firmly on the radar.
No Australian male has podiumed in Olympic triathlon since the sport debuted at Sydney's 2000 Games.
Hauser was seventh in Paris last year and acknowledges his world championship dominance came with gold and silver medallists Alex Lee and Hayden Wilde absent, as the pair made middle-distance cameos.
"Wollongong was a great result and I wanted that title alongside so many great Aussies before me, but it's part of that bigger goal to get the (Olympics) job done," Hauser told AAP ahead of Sunday's Noosa Triathlon.
"It's a big step on the road to a bigger journey."
He needs no reminding of the country's male medal drought in a sport Australian men once dominated.
"I'm still motivated by that history," he said.
"In Paris it would have taken a perfect day to get a medal. In LA I'm hoping it only requires a good day."
Hauser was sensational in the swim leg in Wollongong and ran the 10km final leg in 29 minutes 15.5 seconds.
"I don't tend to look at the numbers too much; I never wear a watch or pace myself (while racing); I just go off feel and try and be at the front," he said.
"Using a watch or sticking to a pace is putting a ceiling on it. With the right mindset you can get a lot more out of yourself.
"The sport's evolved and continues to.
"With Alex and Hayden stepping away for a bit to try other things it gives us a chance to catch up and I think we've done that, based on the few races we came up against them."
Hauser will tackle the Noosa Triathlon for a second time, keen to knock off defending champion and training partner Brayden Mercer over the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run course.
Ten-time defending women's champion Ashleigh Gentle, who has won 11 of the last 12 races, won't compete due to scheduling clashes.
Brisbane's two-time Olympian sits third with two events to run in the lucrative T100 series that carries a $US200,000 ($A305,000) overall prize.
"I was speaking to her this morning ... I've got a lot to catch up," Hauser said.
"Ash is a legend of the sport. One win, let alone 11, would be an honour."
Paris women's champion Cassandre Beaugrand will headline the women's field that includes Australian hope Richelle Hill, who won the U23 world championship in Wollongong.
