The dramatic and historical finish of the men’s Triathlon competition in Beijing 2008 would give a real samba song to Cariocas ears, a people known by its cadenza, sensitivity, joy and celebration. The awarded German Jan Frodeno can well relate.

Current gold medalist in a striking race, in which he has beaten front runners as Simon Whitfield, Canadian Olympic champion in Sydney 2000, and the Spanish world champion Francisco Javier Gomes, Frodeno is already confirmed to London 2012 and wants more. He can be the first athlete to defend the title in the Games.

By e-mail, the German, who has lived in South Africa when a teenager, recalls the greatest victory of his career, talks about the expectations to the next competitions and tells what he wishes to see in the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony.

In Beijing 2008, you won a historical title on the final sprint, an unexpected result for many people. Certainly, not for you. Tell us about that preparation, the days and moments before this great achievement.

I was lucky enough to manage a near perfect preparation. Very hard training, no injuries and a vivid goal in mind. We flew into Jeju, South Korea, to adapt to the time change and to acclimatise, before heading into the village. The hardest thing was to relax just prior to racing - getting as much energy into my body as possible and finding the right balance, so as to be fit on the right day.

On your official website, you say Triathlon appeared in your life when you were watching the first Olympic competition, in Sydney 2000, when Simon Whitfield was the champion. Besides him, who were your references at the beginning of your career?

Early on, growing up in South Africa, Conrad Stolz was a huge motivation. He was at the Games and I actually knew him. His gutsy performance inspired me hugely and the tips he gave me early in my career helped me quite a lot.

By the time you have decided to practice Triathlon, you already practiced Swimming. Triathlon is an evolution, a second step in a young athlete’s life? Is it recommended to begin the sport life sharing the attention among three sports?

Honestly I had no idea what triathlon was before 1999, so there was no option to start with triathlon. I think nowadays there are more and more kids being introduced to the sport earlier, which creates a surge in the depth of strong performances. I would always do things the way I did again, even though I envy the support and knowledge young athletes get nowadays.

There are enormous expectations for London, and you have the chance to be the first Olympic champion to defend your title. What differences do you already perceive between Beijing 2008 and London 2012, including the moment of your career, the competition course and the expectations?

In Beijing everyone said I´d be at the perfect age in London. Here I am then, as focussed as ever but with a lot more experience and knowledge of myself. If anything, the last 3 years have taught me that I have a winning formula, that I need to “update” and adapt to my abilities and the demands of today’s racing. Having qualified a year out means I have some time to make a plan and work bloody hard!

In 2016, the Olympic Games arrive to a new continent. They will be held for the first time in South America. How can the victory of Brazil contribute to the world of sport and to the Olympic Movement?

I have had the privilege to race in South America before, and the great thing is, we are guaranteed “Summer” Games, which is not certain in Europe. But most importantly I think the flair and the cheerfulness of the spectators will be tremendous. I think Brazilians are able to have a party while watching and appreciating sport - a truly unique recipe for a wonderful atmosphere.

In Rio 2016, you will be at 31 years old, still in shape. Will you compete in Brazil?

I certainly hope to be able to finish my career as an athlete dancing the Samba at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games!

You have lived your youth in South Africa. Do you believe the African continent is ready to host the Olympic Games in the near future? How does it influence the practice of the sport in Africa?

For sure yes! The World Cup and South Africa have proven beyond any doubt that Africans are not only ready to but also are hungry to host major sporting events. The continent has produced so many iconic athletes so I think it´s natural that the Games head there.