TWEED Coast swimmer Matthew Abood will realise a boyhood dream when he represents Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Abood secured his place in Rio with a blistering swim in the 50m freestyle at the Australian Swimming Trials in April, which gave him a place in Australia’s 50m relay team, and the individual spot he’d craved.

Realising the dream is the culmination of Abood’s hard work, and while he’s cemented his place in Rio, it could have been so different after the disappointment of missing out on the London Olympics in 2012 by just one one-hundredth of a second.

“It was hard to miss out on London and it took a long time for me to get that drive and enthusiasm back,” Abood said.

Not sure of where his swimming future was heading, Abood rediscovered the passion with a focus outside the pool and a move to Canberra to train under coach Shannon Rollason.

“It’s been fantastic in Canberra. I’ve got a great relationship with Rollason and the training’s been great,” Abood said.

“I’ve developed a career out of the pool and that’s something I’d focussed on after missing London.”

Abood will hit the road leading up to Rio, heading off to Japan on Tuesday, followed by Denmark, before returning to the Tweed for some family time and a competition in Brisbane.

The bright lights of Rio are a world away from Kingscliff where his dream began over two decades ago, but when Abood takes to the blocks, he will be the oldest member of the Dolphins team and one of the oldest debutantes in Olympic swimming history – a fact not lost on Abood.

“Realistically, Rio was my last Olympic chance considering I’m 30 this year,” he said.

“I’d done everything possible to put myself in the best position (for selection) and I’m in the best position physically and mentally that I’ve been in for a long time.”