Tara Rigney has been able to turn to Australia's greatest single sculler Kim Brennan as she chases her own gold medal in Paris.
The 25-year-old is following in the wake of Brennan, who captured Australia's only rowing gold medal in Rio, in the single sculls.
Brennan's triumph there followed her rare rowing feat in London when she won medals in two events at the same Games.
She won bronze in the single sculls and also silver in the women's double sculls.
Sydneysider Rigney still has a photo of 15-year-old self with Brennan, who she watched win Rio gold.
"She's amazing and I think even being asked the question or trying to row the single like Kim - I would never even compare myself to her so I get so like honoured that people even ask those questions," Rigney said.
"She's very impressive - a unique individual."
Rigney felt fortunate she could call on the retired great for advice, particularly after switching to the single event after making her Olympic debut in Tokyo in the double sculls where she finished seventh.
"She made herself super available to me, we've had a few phone calls and we've caught up for coffee," Rigney said.
"When I rowed the single scull she reached out and was giving me some tips and we've had few video chats with her and my coach to pick her brain and to see her style and approach.
"She's always one of the first to message me after I've had a good race so I'm incredibly lucky that she's so open to mentoring me."
A bronze medallist at the last two world championships, Rigney arrives in Paris as a genuine podium contender.
The former junior netball star won the event at the last World Cup in Poland and finished runner-up to Dutch world champion Karolien Florijn in the previous regatta in Switzerland.
She said she that three years on from Tokyo she was a very different rower.
"I'm in a better position going into these Games then the last - that was my first senior regatta ever," Rigney said.
"I couldn't race a full two kilometres without my forearms blowing up and it was preventing me from rowing the way I wanted to so even small things, like I need to strengthen my forearms has allowed me to race better.
"I definitely take confidence from training and previous results but I remember being in Tokyo and watching two of the reigning world champions not make an A final so it's a clean slate and anything can happen.
"I'm very eager to still prove myself and I know I still have a big mountain to climb."
