A quiet word in Tokyo with Alistair Brownlee has stuck with Matt Hauser as he chases Australian triathlon Olympic history in Paris.
Britain's two-time gold medallist knows how to get it done on the biggest stage, and his advice to Hauser was comforting.
"They say to treat it like any other race, but it's not," Hauser, ranked No.7 in the world, told AAP.
"So you have to go in with a few different attitudes.
"I remember Ali saying to me, 'a few people perform as they should, a few over-perform and most under-perform'.
"So all you've got to do is perform as you have been, or as you should, and you should be up there at the pointy end.
"So I'll keep that under my belt, to just keep doing what I'm doing."
It sounds simple, but a medal in Paris on July 30 would be a first for men's triathlon in Australia.
Emma Snowsill won gold in Beijing, and Australian women have also won two silver and two bronze medals since the sport's introduction at the 2000 Sydney Games.
The surge of triathlon's popularity in Europe has been felt, with Australia not medalling in either gender since 2012, and the mixed team finishing a disappointing ninth in the event's Tokyo debut.
"All sports and counties go in ebbs and flows. We're on that ebb, so Paris is a crucial one to get the culture back," the 25-year-old Queenslander said.
"Snowy, Moffy (Emma Moffat), (Emma) Densham, (Michellie) Jones, it keeps going.
"The females have been carrying us since 2000, so us males have got to put something together this time around."
Hauser has already qualified, but there is a three-horse race behind him for what's likely to be just one remaining male spot.
It is a sign of his development since finishing 24th in Tokyo.
"It was anti-climactic - a big build-up, then the race done in an hour and 45 minutes and it's like 'what happened'," Hauser said of the delayed Games, which were held without crowds.
"Click your fingers and it's over and we're flown out.
"I might have been a top-15 (prospect) back then, but it was bits and pieces and I knew I was top 10 at best.
"This campaign will be a lot different - I'm coming in hungry and experienced.
"I learnt at Tokyo what a medal does to a sport and a team.
"Seeing all the swimmers strolling in with medals clinking around their necks, it was special and I want to contribute to Team Australia like that."
Two-time Olympian Ashleigh Gentle, who has transitioned to longer-distance racing, said Hauser possessed the qualities required to flourish in Paris.
"I don't want him to feel the pressure because that really undid me," she told AAP.
"Matt is so exceptionally talented. You can't be coming out of the water even 20 seconds behind, and he's one of the strongest swimmers.
"And to have the run he does, that combo is deadly."
