But the revitalised veteran is now backing himself to cap a stellar career with a medal at next year's Tokyo Olympics.

Fraser-Holmes, 28, says he's as motivated as ever to make a third Games despite the event's recent postponement to 2021 and almost eight weeks out of the training pool due to coronavirus.

Indeed, the Gold Coast-based competitor has cleared bigger hurdles in the past.

In 2017 Fraser-Holmes received the shattering news that he would cop a year-long suspension for neglecting to update his whereabouts with drug authorities and as a result missed three doping tests in 12 months.

He contemplated hanging up the goggles before vowing to end his career on his terms in Tokyo.

"My goal when I had that break in 2017 was to come back and compete at a third Olympics, chasing something that I don't have which is an Olympic medal," Fraser-Holmes told the Inside with Brett Hawke podcast.

"I have been to two Olympics, my goal is to finish with some silverware."

Having made his Games debut at London in 2012, Fraser-Holmes looked primed to start his Olympic collection in Rio after announcing his arrival on the world stage two years earlier.

He emerged triumphant in a world class Pan Pacs 200m freestyle final that year and swam "the perfect race" to claim 2014 Commonwealth Games gold in the same event.

He also held the 400m individual medley national record.

Yet he failed to even make the 200m freestyle final after finishing sixth in the 400m IM medal race at Rio.

He is now focusing on the 200m freestyle individual and relay events for Tokyo, admitting his utility value had brought him unstuck in the past.

"In hindsight I probably would have focused on one event. I was in the [medal] ball park for both ... but never really nailed one," he said.

A national team regular for a decade, sidelined for the 2018 Commonwealth Games but bouncing back for last year's World Championships, Fraser-Holmes is known for his friendly, laid-back nature. Now, he also has a steely focus.

"I definitely see myself as a world champion and you have to have that mentality to go anywhere in this sport," he said.

"[But] I am more the person who has a strong inner belief ... let my swimming do the talking. [And] I am pumped for the next 14 months."

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