For most athletes, there comes a point when they must begin to imagine life beyond the sport to which they have dedicated themselves. After more than two decades on the international circuit, Peter Kauzer knows competition may not last forever, but Canoe Slalom will.
"Even when I stop being a professional athlete, I will stay in the sport," said Kauzer.
"I want to help others, especially young athletes, and share my knowledge.
"I can't just walk away from it. For me, this sport is like ballet on water."
It is the answer of someone whose connection to Canoe Slalom extends far beyond results and medals.
Asked what the sport means to him after all these years, Kauzer offers a description that perhaps explains why walking away completely has never been an option.
The Slovenian has built a remarkable career on the water, winning an Olympic silver medal, two world titles, three overall World Cup crowns and competing at five Olympic Games.
Following his appearance at Paris 2024, Kauzer believed his Olympic journey had likely come to an end.
"After Paris, I said it was probably my last Olympic Games," he said.
But retirement did not feel quite right.
"After that, I took time to reflect and decided to take it season by season,” added Kauzer.
"If it takes me all the way to LA28, good. If not, I don't know - we will see what happens."
His approach is shaped by experience. The days of planning years ahead are gone. Instead, Kauzer focuses on the present, appreciating every opportunity to race while listening carefully to what his body tells him.
"I don't have many races left," he said.
"As long as I'm still part of it, I try to enjoy it and make the most of it."
Longevity at the highest level demands adaptation, and Kauzer has continually refined his methods throughout his career.
"The fundamentals stay the same. I just add things that I think are important each year," he said.
"The big difference now compared to 10 or 15 years ago is that I don't need as much training volume because my body needs more time to recover. You need to listen to your body."
That willingness to evolve has helped him remain competitive long after many of his contemporaries have stepped away. While Canoe Slalom continues to change, the principles that underpin success remain constant.
"Firstly, you need really good fundamentals and technical skills," he said.
"Then you build experience by paddling different rivers and courses. After that, you develop your own system of training and coping with pressure. That's how you stay consistent."
Consistency has been one of the defining characteristics of Kauzer's career. Through changing Olympic cycles, new generations of athletes and countless hours on the water, he has remained a fixture at the highest level of international competition.
Yet what stands out most is not the longevity itself, but the enthusiasm that still accompanies it.
"This is the most beautiful sport in the world - for me," he said.
"During the summer it's amazing. Even in winter it's not always easy, but if you love what you do, it's not hard to continue."
Whether his competitive journey extends to a sixth Olympic Games in Los Angeles or concludes before then remains uncertain.
What is certain is that Canoe Slalom will continue to be a part of his life. For Peter Kauzer, the relationship with the sport was never defined by a finish line. It was shaped by a lifetime spent pursuing mastery, and by a passion that remains as strong today as it was when he first stepped into a boat.
After all, you do not simply walk away from something you have spent a lifetime perfecting - especially when it still feels, in Kauzer's words, like ballet on water.
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