By CHRISTINA VARDANIS -- London Free Press
 Jason Tunks is heading back to the Olympics a little older -- and a lot wiser.

 "This time I'm going in to medal," he says confidently. "Last time, I was just going for the experience."

 The London native and world class discus thrower was at York University yesterday, competing "for fun" in a top three qualifiers meet, where he placed first with a throw of 53.31 metres.

 Tunks has come a long way since his days at Banting secondary school, where he shattered record after record, blazing a trail to countless meets and national championships.

 The last few years have seen an equal amount of adversity and triumph for the 25-year-old, as he battled injuries, surgery on his planting foot and financial problems.

 But with the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney just around the corner, Tunks -- now ranked eighth in the world -- is spending less time concentrating on the past and is directing all his energy toward the future.

 "My physical training right now is an extension of the season but mentally, it's totally different," he says. "It's more intense, because there's a goal there -- and it's high, but not unrealistic."

 His next challenge is the national championships in July, where he must finish in the top four to qualify for Sydney. Tunks, however, isn't too worried about attaining this berth.

 "Typically, that fourth spot is taken with a 50-metre throw," he says. "I threw 50 metres when I was 16."

 After that, it's up to Tunks to prepare himself for a demanding performance that will land him on the Olympic podium.

 The athlete, though confident, is wary of becoming cocky about this task.

 "About two months ago, I was thinking I would win all the time," he says. "But now . . . It takes 67 metres to medal," he says, regrouping and looking at the situation mathematically.

 "I know I can do that. It takes 70 metres to win . . . I'd have to ask a lot of my body, but I have no doubt I can do that either."

 Last year, after a string of successful meets, Tunks fell ill with a bacterial infection while in Brazil, which set him back physically and mentally.

 "My season was well over by the time the world championships came around," he said.

 "But I knew I would do anything to make it back. The world record is 74 metres, so I had it taped to my mirror so I had to look at it every day. I had a journal that I'd write positive things in -- anything to get back."

 Tunks is still training in Texas, where he attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas before leaving school to train full time.

 He says the environment is crucial to supplying the motivation needed to breed a world champion.

 "You're surrounded by world class athletes," he says.

 "My training partner is a 67-metre thrower. Lifting becomes that much more intense, because everyone has the same goals in mind.

 "In Canada, I was basically working against myself."

 Although he spends most of his time in the U.S. with wife and world-class thrower Teri, Tunks says there is still good reason to train while he's in London -- namely, his old high school coach and mentor, John Allan.

 "I work with him whenever I come up. It's good to get a new set of eyes on you, because you forget the little things you've learned over the years," he says.

 "It's good to get back to basics sometimes."

 Tunks takes this philosophy to heart and says even though his goals are high, he tries to take every day one step at a time.

 "You have to focus at the task at hand. You can't go into every practice, thinking you're at the Olympic Games."