JAIME Ryan has a new sailing partner, a new boat class and a whole new Olympic experience in Tokyo.
But representing Australia alongside the 27-year-old at a second straight Games is older brother Will.
The Coal Point siblings are both scheduled to kick start their respective campaigns at Enoshima this week.
However, this time around, Jaime is keen to join Rio silver medalist Will on the Olympic podium and add to the family mantlepiece.
"Sharing this whole journey with him has been a huge part of what's made it so enjoyable for me," Jaime told the Newcastle Herald.
"And to see the success he and Mat [Belcher] have had together, obviously I'm super proud.
"I think I might be more nervous for his performance at the Games than my own.
"He's been such a big supporter for me and I hope I've been able to be the same for him."
Jaime, since making her Olympic debut in Rio five years ago, has switched from the women's 470 to the skiff 49er FX division.
She now teams up with Tess Lloyd, and although a relatively fresh pair compared to some opponents, Jaime feels like an extra 12 months has helped build their bond following a strong performance in a pre-Games event at the same location.
"I hope we can come home with a medal," Jaime said.
"I think we're right on the cusp, but we've definitely got a chance. We really enjoy the venue and can sail well there. It gets quite a mix of conditions ... and I feel like that's a strength for us. And we've had our best performances there in 2019.
"We both feel like we've made huge improvements since then. At that stage we'd only been sailing together, and I'd only been in FX, for a year so now we're three years down the track."
Jaime and Melbourne-based Lloyd, who were initially named for Tokyo in February last year, spent a few months apart when COVID-19 first hit but eventually reunited and travelled along the east coast avoiding lockdowns so they could continue training.
"Lots of driving and lots of kilometres," Jaime said.
Most recently the duo ventured overseas, competing at an Olympic simulation regatta in Portugal.
"We reconnected with the international fleet and we were very grateful for that opportunity," Jaime said.
"It was definitely a good refresher about what it's like to sail with the other FX boats.
"There were two events in Portugal and the second one was a full Olympic simulation.
"Everyone in the regatta was there bar a few and it replicated the same structure of the Games.
"It was an amazing effort to put it together. It was really high quality and really valuable."
Finishing runner-up in Rio, the pair have recently described this Olympics as a "last dance" with the 470 category changing to a mixed crew for the next Games in Paris in 2024.
They have won two world championships in the two-person dinghy, including a Games test event in Japan.
The women's 49er FX preliminary races get underway on Tuesday and the men's 470 starts on Wednesday, both from 1pm (AEST).
Medal events are due to take place on August 2 and 4 respectively.
