Brandon Loupos calls his pre-Olympics build-up with Logan Martin the "best-worst situation possible".
Before the Australians can compete for BMX Freestyle's first Olympic gold medal, they must work together.
They are strong favourites for the sport's Olympic debut in Tokyo, with Martin the inaugural world champion two years ago.
Then they went one-two at the worlds last month, with Loupos winning ahead of Martin.
But only the top-ranked nation will qualify two entries at the Olympics, so Loupos and Martin have to keep racking up qualifying points until the May deadline.
"It's the best-worst situation possible - I wouldn't be where I am without Logan pushing me and I'd like to think Logan wouldn't be on his feet as much as he is without me as well," Loupos said.
"It's like working with each other, but working against each other at the same time.
"I want to win and I don't want anyone to beat me.
"Obviously we want to work together to qualify Australia, but I feel like that rivalry doesn't start until we're at Tokyo. To qualify Australia is the goal."
The Olympic qualifying campaign continues over the next fortnight, with the Oceania championships this weekend at Melbourne's Rampfest skate park and then another international event the following weekend in Brisbane.
Loupos is back competing after a fortnight off with a fractured rib, suffered while he was filming a pre-Olympics promotion with Channel Seven.
"I go crazy when I'm injured," he said.
"I haven't ridden for two and a half weeks and I'm just absolutely itching to get back on the bike."
He gives his grandmother Anola, who died two years ago, plenty of credit for the world title.
After crashing out of his first run in the world championships final, Loupos went for broke in the second run and scored enough to take the gold medal.
"I was a mess right after my first run ... I was thinking about changing up the (second) run, just to get a podium," he said.
"I just thought 'No. It's win, or 12th, no in-between.
"Then I was thinking before my second run 'Grandma, please, c'mon, c'mon' - she was in my corner.
"It's crazy - I still have to pinch myself - not to think I'm a world champion, but to think I've gotten this far."
Australian Associated Press
