Brent Newdick rates his performance in the decathlon at last year's London Olympics as the beginning of a new period in his career.
He's now set his sights on the ultimate goal - an Olympic medal at the 2015 Rio de Janeiro Games.
The 28-year-old, who first made his mark in athletics at Tauranga Boys' College, believes he is coming into peak time in the most demanding athletic challenge of all - being a world class performer in 10 different track and field events.
"London was definitely the highest ranking or place I have finished at a major world championship," Newdick said.
"Obviously I had the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games which was great to get a podium finish but last year was special because it was a childhood goal to make the Olympics.
"It is a matter of scoring close to your best. In London I only did one personal best so there were nine events that I could have done better at. I actually had a few niggles going into that comp so staying healthy is the key.
"If I can put two years together before Rio injury free then I think that will be the difference of about 300 points and scoring two or three personal bests. That particularly can come in the high jump, long jump and pole vault.
"People can continue on until up to 35-36 in the decathlon if they stay healthy but the world record holders are always between 28 and 32 so for me from right now I am in that prime time."
Newdick is in action at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics beginning in Moscow tomorrow but his preparation has suffered from missing five months of the year through injury. He had a knee operation and suffered osteitis pubis, which is a common cause of groin and pelvic pain in athletes.
"I was just really lucky I was able to get healthy again and I think the worlds are just good preparation to get back on track for the Commonwealths again next year. Those games and the 2015 World Champs leading into Rio are the really important check marks."
Training for the decathlon requires pin-point timing to ensure the athlete has spent the right amount of time on all 10 disciplines. Newdick says the key is not to leave any of the disciplines untouched.
"It is a matter of having the confidence to train the right events on the right days and I found it out through trial and error. I have been doing it for a few years now so I have a good system."