Great Britain's Max Cater has set his sights on becoming the first male to win a taekwondo gold medal at the European Games.
Cater's -58kg category takes place on Tuesday - the opening day of taekwondo action in Baku - meaning that victory would write him into the record books at the inaugural Games.
The 17-year-old is the youngest member of Team GB's seven-person taekwondo squad and is taking part in his maiden senior multi-sport event, but he is confident that he can go far.
Just two days before he competes, Cater spoke to Sports Mole about his expectations, his teammates and his ambition to compete at next year's summer Olympics in Rio.
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How are you finding your first taste of a multi-sport event?
"It's really good. So many people from different sports - it's just amazing. With a taekwondo tournament, we're all with a team, we stay at a hotel and then it's like a day and then we weigh in and compete.
"Now we're here for a long time with all the athletes in the village. We're all dining together, we're all training together, it's different than a normal competition."
What are your expectations going into the tournament?
"My expectation is to win gold for Great Britain. I reckon I could do well, I've got a good draw and I know all of the other players in it. Everyone in the weight could win it, everyone's got the ability to win it. I have the ability to win it so I just have to go out there and do it."
There are plenty of ranking points on offer for the Olympics - is it a case of all eyes on Rio now?
"Yeah, it is - 40 points is quite big. I think it'd push me up to 11th in the Olympic rankings and there are a couple spaces up for automatic qualification for Rio."
Even if a medal doesn't come, this must be valuable experience for you at your age?
"I'm still young, I've got ages - it's 2019 for the next European Games and I'm still young, I'm only 17. I've got ages so this will be a good experience for me."
Being so young, does it help to have the likes of Jade Jones and Bianca Walkden - people who have been there and done it - alongside you in the squad?
"It helps being so young, it inspires me to go out there and achieve what they've achieved. It's amazing what they've done."
You've been switching between -54kg and -58kg in recent tournaments...
"Yeah, I competed the whole year in 54kg, but I tried 58kg and got a bronze medal. Everyone thinks it's going to be harder [at 58kg] but it feels sort of the same because although I know 4kg is quite a heavy difference, I'm quite tall so I can control the match well.
"You can feel the difference power-wise between the 58 boys and the 54 boys, but it feels natural because I'm quite tall. And it's alright because I can eat food!"
So -58kg is your preferred weight?
"Yes, this is my preferred weight and it's an Olympic weight so what I'm mostly concentrating on as well."
Barney Corkhill
