Kyle Chalmers fears for his physical future beyond swimming but is adamant he can drag his damaged shoulders to the 2024 Olympics.
Chalmers has revealed his everyday life, such as sleeping and driving a car, already suffers from recent shoulder operations.
But the Olympic 100 metres freestyle gold and silver medallist says it's a price he's willing to pay despite his body feeling like a 40-year-old when he's only 23.
Chalmers will swim butterfly only at the Australian championships in Adelaide starting on Wednesday, a competition which doubles as a world championship and Commonwealth Games selection meet.
"The last two-and-a-half years has been very frustrating, dealing with shoulder injuries day-in, day-out," Chalmers told reporters on Tuesday.
"It's moreso the away-from-the-pool stuff that it affects me, like my everyday lifestyle - I can't sleep on my shoulders, driving, drinking coffees, whatever it is ... anything lifting my shoulders is what sucks.
"If it was just the two hours, four hours a day I am in the pool that it was sore, it would be OK.
"But it's the everyday life that gets affected from shoulder injuries or injuries in general that you just can't get away from, just forever in your head."
Chalmers admitted "big-time" concern about his physical state beyond swimming.
The South Australian won a 100m freestyle silver medal at last year's Tokyo Olympics, following his gold medal in the event at the 2016 Rio Games.
"To get to Tokyo, (I had to) do everything I possibly can - surgeries, cortisones, ... anti-inflammatories every day," he said.
"This year, it's like: what will this impact have on the rest of my life?"
Physios have told him that "eventually you will be pretty arthritic and not be able to do many things".
"It is a scary thought ... it is definitely a concern," Chalmers said.
"But you have got to do it to be at the top unfortunately.
"And I have sacrificed and put my body on the line for so many years now to be at the top."
Chalmers will skip the world titles in Budapest in June to focus on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham starting on July 28.
He will then set his sights on racing both freestyle and butterfly at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"Let's hope it (the shoulders) goes until at least Paris ... surely I have got a few more years in me," he said.
"I turn 24 next month so still pretty young, unfortunately it feels like I am 40 most days.
"Unfortunately when I am done with swimming I probably won't be able to lift my shoulders above my head. But do it while I can and then take it from there."
