When Adam Peaty seized Olympic 100m Breaststroke gold in Rio de Janeiro to complete a clean sweep of international titles, he was bewildered when one of the first questions he faced was whether he would then retire.
The 22-year-old carved out the biggest winning margin in the two-length event in Games history as he added the Olympic crown to the World, European and Commonwealth titles he had claimed in two short, scorching years.
Already the only man ever to go under 58 seconds, Peaty twice lowered his own world record in Brazil, stopping the clock at a shuddering 57.13 in the final.
It was other-worldly and was recognised as such by world governing body FINA who bestowed on Peaty the Best Male Olympic Swimming Performance award.
There was also a sub-57-second split which confounded 23-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps as Great Britain won silver in the 4x100m Medley Relay.
But for Peaty the notion that it would signal the end of his career was baffling, for him it was merely the beginning as he looks to take himself and the sport further into another realm.
“I feel like I am just starting now, it’s a bit weird that people ask you if you plan to retire as soon as you hit the top but I know I definitely have a lot more work to do."
“We’ll aim for (Tokyo) 2020 and if we are in good shape we’ll keep going to 2024. I don’t see why I can’t be in good shape but you never know what is around the corner. If I train this well as long as I can then 2024 is still a possibility.”
No British swimmer has won two consecutive Olympic titles but for Peaty it is not about defending a gold, rather about constant propulsion, testing himself to his limits wherever that may take him.
“The other day I was thinking about when people say you have got to defend your titles but I don’t see it like that,” he said. “I am still attacking those titles because I am planning to go faster than anyone else.
“I haven’t really got to defend anything – I am just going to keep attacking and do what I’ve always done since 2014 and that is to swim as fast as you can out there and come back as fast as you can.
“So I am still attacking those titles - every single one - not defending.”
It is an all-or-nothing approach that translates across every part of his life.
“I’m all in - everything. Sometimes it can get the better of you really but I am always all in, I always want the best that I can have or be the best that I can be.”
Following Rio, the Uttoxeter-born swimmer moved to British Swimming’s National Centre, Loughborough with coach Mel Marshall and became the owner of his first house after leaving the family home in Derby.
The switch has already reaped benefits.
“Amazing,” he said of his new training base. “Before I was training in Loughborough full time, I was in and out, I was using the gym, I was using the support services but I wasn’t there full time.
“Being at Loughborough has already helped me a massive amount and I am already looking at gains I didn’t have before."
“Being at Loughborough has already helped me a massive amount and I am already looking at gains I didn’t have before.
“I am only 10 minutes from home because I’ve moved closer whereas before it was an hour’s drive each way. I feel so much better, I am training so much better, I’m happier in my swimming as well so I am loving it.”
One of Peaty and Marshall’s stated targets is ‘Project 56’ as he aims to take the world record under the 57-second mark.
“If it comes this year, next year at Commonwealths, the year after or Tokyo then so be it,” he said.
“But I am definitely in a better place where I’m closer to achieving my aims. Because your training is better your racing gets better as well and I have already proved that – with two 58s in very, very hard training.
“I went out to America, had a day to turn it round, did a 58 and got out of there.
“Any time I can race a 59 low or a 58 high now is much better than last season but I am still going to keep my mind open that 56 is a very, very fast time but has to be achievable. You have to have that perfect race and my training is definitely in place for something very special.”
Given his stellar achievements since he made a shuddering introduction on to the international stage in 2014, it is easy to forget that Budapest would be only his second World Championships, two years after winning triple gold in Kazan, Russia.
At some point in the future, Peaty also plans to take on the 200m Breaststroke but this year he will compete in the 50m and 100m at the British Swimming Championships, which double as the selection meet for Budapest.
“At the Olympics I went there and did what I had to do but Budapest will be my second worlds so I am looking forward to getting out there and just racing,” he said.
“This year I have already laid down some quick times to show my speed is there even when I am in full training.
“Going into the British Championships I am just looking forward to seeing what I’ve got but at the same time I think I can swim pretty fast as well.”For tickets to the British Swimming Championships click here and subscribe to our YouTube channel here to watch all the action on the live stream.