Steve Smith puts retirement talk to bed as he eyes 2028 LA Olympic Games

Less than two years ago Steve Smith seemed to be flirting with the idea of retirement. Back in form, the Australian great has put those talks firmly to bed. He outlines his Olympic dreams.

After achieving almost everything cricket has to offer, Steve Smith has one last tantalising goal – the Los Angeles Olympics.

Smith is so serious he has linked with a personal trainer in his new home New York City, in a bid to evolve into a T20 power hitter capable of peaking for the 2028 Games when he will be 39 years of age.

Nick Herodotou is a Melbourne-born fitness guru who has worked with Olympic kayakers, snowboarders, American NBA stars, Major League Soccer players, AFL footballers as well as Hollywood actors and is now training Smith towards his dream of becoming Australian cricket’s Olympic pioneer.

It was his desire to focus on the Olympics that prompted Smith’s recent decision to retire from ODI cricket. By doing so he can hone is game in more T20 tournaments around the world.

Less than two years ago, Smith seemed to be flirting with the idea of retirement, admitting he was wary of following a similar path to the great Ricky Ponting, who had conceded post his stellar career that he probably went on too long

But Smith – reinvigorated by blasting four hundreds in his past five Tests – has adjusted his tune and is now prescribing to a mantra; ‘don’t die with your music still in you.”

How long that prolongs Smith’s Test career beyond this summer’s Ashes remains to be seen.

But making the 2028 Olympics would stand as one of Smith’s all-time great achievements, not only for it being age defying, but because the best since Bradman hasn’t been cemented as a first-choice starter in the Australian T20 side since the 2021 World Cup.

Four tons in five Tests has Steve Smith ready for more. Picture: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

“As long as I’m contributing to the team and I’m having fun there’s no reason to stop,” Smith said ahead of a World Test Championship Final on Wednesday he already feels cherry ripe for.

“I’ve spoken to quite a few people around retirement and around what it looks like and everybody was basically just saying the same: you’re a long time retired.

“It’s resonated with me in a way.

“I’ve got to try and make it last while I can and I’m living my dream I suppose. I’m doing everything I’ve loved to do and everything I’ve wanted to do for my whole life. Why cut it short I suppose? Keep trying to do it for as long as I can.

“While I’m still contributing … (retirement) it kind of doesn’t cross my mind in a way.

“Now I’ve got other ambitions and goals. One day it is to play the Olympics which I’d love to do.

“That was pretty much the reason why I let go of one-day cricket to be able to play a bit more T20.

“To be able to push my name forward for that Olympics team, that’s my next goal.

“I feel like I’ve achieved a lot amongst the other formats and that’s probably the one format internationally I haven’t quite nailed. That’s my No. 1 goal.”

Steve Smith is looking to make himself a mainstay in Australia’s T20 team. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

Smith is now just five Test centuries away from equalling Ponting’s all-time Australian record of 41.

Given the way Smith dominated Sri Lanka earlier this year and has excelled in sub-continental conditions his whole career, it seems possible Smith could yet return to India for one last crack at the holy grail of toppling cricket’s super power in their own backyard in 2027.

Although Smith is still stopping short of buying into that sort of forecasting.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s a fair way away,” Smith said, fully aware of the unique rigours of the Test match format.

“I kind of just take it day by day. As I’ve said for a while now. I’m enjoying it. I feel like I’m batting nicely.”

Smith has been posting videos on Instagram of his fitness work with Herodotou and said the mission to build strength is inspired largely by his Olympic ambitions.

“It’s been nice to have a bit of a training block for the last couple of months. It’s been good to be able to do some weights training,” he said.

“I’m probably as strong as I’ve ever been.

“I feel like I’m moving nicely. I’ve got a few new exercises where my hips are as open as I’ve been for a long time.

“I feel like I can squat deeper than I’ve ever been able to squat. Which, in turn, hopefully helps me in the slips as well.

“I’m feeling in a really good place. I’m just ready to get back into (playing) now.

“I’ve been working with Nick at S10, it’s a private facility.

“I’ve done a few different things that I’ve never done before.

“I want to be able to hit the ball further and try and be as good as I can be at that T20 format. That’s certainly a part of it.

“I do feel really stable, particularly through my glutes when I’m at the crease. I’m sure it’s going to correlate up (to big hitting).

“I’ve seen it a bit in my golf at times, hitting the ball a bit further so hopefully it translates into cricket as well.”

Originally published as Steve Smith puts retirement talk to bed as he eyes 2028 LA Olympic Games