As Chinese snooker sensation Ding Junhui prepared for his debut in the world championships in Sheffield, England, next month, the 19-year-old was already dreaming of emulating his famous compatriots Yao Ming and Liu Xiang by competing at an Olympic Games.
Despite a shock defeat in the China Open - a tournament he won in 2005 - at the hands of British wild card Barry Hawkins on Thursday, Ding will now be channelling all his energy into his world championship debut next month.
But he has received no favours from the draw, which pits him against tournament favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round.
The triple gold medallist from last year's Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, has time on his side for an Olympic role, however, as he turned 20 today and would be just 29 when the 2016 Olympiad comes around.
Ding is envious of Yao, who shares the same Chinese management, and his close friend Liu, with whom he 'likes to hang out', as the duo prepare for next year's Beijing showpiece. 'I envy them being able to take part in Beijing 2008 and dream that one day snooker might be admitted to the Olympics,' Ding said.
'I enjoyed the team and individual parts of the Asian Games and did very well, and it would be my big hope that sometime in the future I might stand on top of the world with an Olympic gold medal around my neck. Doing that in Doha, with the Chinese national anthem playing and the Chinese flag being raised, was the proudest moment of my life so far, but winning the Olympics would be even better.'