Such is the confidence that German javelin thrower Thomas Röhler has taken from his brilliant 2015 that he is determined to make the podium at this summer’s European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam.
Röhler, 24, made quite an impact last summer, where he ended top of the European Athletics rankings with 89.27m before he then finished fourth (87.41m) at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.
Now he is plotting to make an impact in Amsterdam and his aim “is to go on the podium”.
His expectations are proof of what experience brings.
At the last European Athletics Championships in Zurich 2014, Röhler was third best in qualifying (81.24m) but when it came to the final, it was a different story.
He finished last with 70.31m, failing to make the cut with his only other legal throw from his three efforts being 66.52m.
But that is all in the past and Röhler will find himself part of a unique atmosphere in the Dutch capital.
While the javelin and discus finals will be in the Olympic Stadium, the qualifying competitions take place in the Museumplein, the public area in the south of the city which will be transformed into a sporting arena.
It is all about spreading the word for the championships and the chance for supporters to see some of their heroes away from the norm of the major stadium.
Röhler, speaking to leichtathletik.de, said of the different venues for the event: “A cool idea. I have never thrown in the Amsterdam stadium. Therefore, it is a challenge to throw the qualifying outside to then try to reach the finals in the stadium.”
It’s been 21 years since Raymond Hecht set the German national record and breaking that 90m mark would be another major barrier for Röhler.
You never know...
Now that he has shown he has the tools to deliver at major championships, Amsterdam could be one of the most important competitions of his career, as he chases his first major gold.