When it comes to Olympic Games appearances, Richard Kruse has been there and done it – but on the eve of his fourth outing the fencer admits he still has unfinished business.
Londoner Kruse finished eighth on his Olympic Games debut in Athens 12 years ago – the best performance by a British fencer for 40 years.
He again competed in the men’s individual foil at Beijing 2008 where he finished 14th while at London he was 17th in the individual and sixth in the team event.
In the four years since, British fencing has continued to go from strength to strength with Kruse a part of the team which earned European Championship bronze in 2013 and then gold at the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015.
Team GB were assured of representation in the foil back in February where a ninth-placed finish at the World Cup in Bonn meant that qualification was sealed by virtue of being the highest European world-ranked team outside the top four.
And with results giving cause for optimism, Kruse believes this summer represents as good a chance as any to break his Olympic Games podium duck.
“I haven’t managed to bag myself an Olympic medal yet, but there’s no reason I can’t do it this time so I’m really going to go for it,” he said.
“It has gone wrong in every Games up until now so it’s time to right the wrong.
“It’s the first time we’ve actually qualified a team legitimately. In London, we were able to compete because we were the home nation, so this year we’ve actually qualified through the European Zone, which is one of the hardest qualifying routes.
“It was a real relief when it finally happened. It was a very tense day and I think we all aged ten years within the space of a few hours.
“We do have a really good chance and we’re up there with the best.
“We’re definitely a threat to this Olympics, not just for the podium but for that gold medal as well.
“But before then, we’ll just carry on with what we have been doing – it’s business as usual for us.”
A qualified civil engineer and able player of the bagpipes, Kruse’s talents are not confined just to the sport of fencing.
But he concedes his fencing passion is one that has developed into being a pivotal part of his life.
“I have been fencing since I was younger after starting it as a hobby, so I was lucky that I was good at it and it became my job,” he added.
“The goal has always been to make the Olympic Games every four years, and we’ve put so much work into it as a squad that I’m over the moon that we’ve qualified as a team for the first time and I’m on my way to my fourth Games.
“Each Games I’ve gone to so far has had its own character. Athens was fantastic but it wasn’t quite as ready as much as they hoped it would be.
“Beijing was very militant and everything was perfect, and London had its own brilliant character as well.
“I don’t know what to expect of Rio so I’m really excited to get out there and explore.”
Sportsbeat 2016