This time, Saya Sakakibara is ready.
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Buoyed by the outstanding defence of her World Cup title, the Australian BMX star will take much greater confidence into this week's world titles.
Sakakibara and Izaak Kennedy, who won the men's World Cup series for the first time, are Australia's top elite medal chances at the worlds in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The May 16-18 world championships are the last Paris Olympics qualification event for BMX.
AusCycling also hopes to end an elite medal drought - the last men's medallist was Sam Willougby's 2014 world title, while no woman has been on the podium since Caroline Buchanan won three-straight silver medals between 2015-17.
Sakakibara and Lauren Reynolds made the women's final last year in Glasgow, but started poorly. Sakakibara finished fourth and Reynolds was sixth.
"Last year was disappointing, but looking back, I wasn't ready to win - my preparation wasn't the best and I was not in the best mindset," Sakakibara said.
"I have grown a lot since then, and I have confidence that this year I am ready."
A month out from last year's worlds, Kennedy was badly injured when he crashed during a race.
He ruptured three ligaments in his left knee, including the ACL, as well as a bone fracture in his left ankle.
Kennedy has recovered superbly from the disaster to win the World Cup title and a big result in Rock Hill will confirm his Paris medal claims.
"I feel great and confident in how I'm riding at the moment and the good results always help. I'm just happy with where I'm at and excited for the opportunities coming up," Kennedy said.
"I've been putting in a lot of work on the bike and in the gym. I've gotten a lot stronger over the past few months."
Reynolds, Sienna Pal, Jack Davis and Joshua McLean will be the other elite Australian competitors at the worlds, while World Cup champions Oliver Moran (U23) and Teya Rufus (junior women) headline the lower categories.
Australian Associated Press
