By: Courier Mail - Clint Robinson, a star of surf and still-water paddling, was 20 when he gave his country its first Games kayak gold in the 1000m singles final at Barcelona in 1992. Almost two decades later, the Queensland veteran told The Courier-Mail he had launched a campaign to qualify for the London Games, which will open on his 40th birthday - July 27, 2012.

He joins swimmers Ian Thorpe, Libby Trickett and Geoff Huegill, who all want another shot at glory. The trend is growing across sports with surfing legend Kelly Slater returning to win an 11th world title, aged 39, and cricket greats Shane Warne, 42, and Matthew Hayden, 40, re-emerging for the Twenty20 Big Bash competition.

Robinson has discussed his plans with Australian Institute of Sport chiefs, as well as canoeing high-performance director Richard Fox. If successful at selection trials at Penrith in March, he will qualify for his sixth Games.

Even with Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals and a record 68 Australian titles in kayaking and surf lifesaving, the Sunshine Coast paddler said he was hungry as ever to compete at the highest level.

"The Olympic Games has been such a massive part of my life and I love the challenge," he said. "I still believe I'm physically and mentally able to do it. Yes, I'm a different athlete to the one I was when I was 20, but I now have a greater understanding of the technical aspects and how to get the most from my craft."

At the head of those standing in his way is 28-year-old Gold Coast powerhouse Ken Wallace, the 2008 Beijing K1 500m gold medallist, who produced an uncharacteristic result when he failed to reach the final at the world championships earlier this year.

Robinson, 39, who works as a coach, has fuelled his competitive fire in endurance races, winning the last two 54km Molokai World Championship surf ski races.

Now he is going back to where it all began - the Maroochy River - where he is working on generating the explosive power needed to win his sport's coveted 1km race.

This time around he has a wife, Sarah, and two young children Charlotte, 2, and Henry, 11 months, cheering him on.

Mrs Robinson said her husband had "lived on the water" most of his life and paddling was his gift.