The "madness" that came after winning Olympic gold made Mack Horton's head spin.
Still nothing seemed to quite prepare the 20-year-old for his national swim titles success in Brisbane this week, saying it made "no sense".
![Triple threat: Mack Horton.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170817090452im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/k/t/m/j/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvktm5.png/1492126553980.jpg)
Horton became the first man since his childhood idol Grant Hackett in 2008 to complete the domestic 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle triple.
Much to the Rio 400m champion's surprise.
Horton is keen to push for 400m and 1500m glory at July's world titles in Budapest.
But he was unsure if he would even contest the 200m in Hungary because he still had no idea how he won it in Brisbane.
"I would like to be able to do it (all three distances) at worlds but it is finding the balance at training," Horton said.
"But this week to be honest makes zero sense because I have done no 200m training and that was probably my best swim.
"I don't know if I will race 200m. I have to figure out what is going on.
"I rocked up and accidentally won the 200m.
"But it's cool (winning freestyle triple)."
The last time an Australian medalled in all three distances at a world titles was Hackett at the height of his powers in 2005.
He won the 400m and 1500m - in a then world record - and took 200m silver to be named swimmer of the meet at Fukuoka, Japan.
And the last time an Australian medalled in all three distances at an Olympics was Daniel Kowalski at the 1996 Olympics.
"It is pretty rare for it happen. It's a pretty big task to take on," Horton said of contesting the three distances at Budapest.
"I honestly don't know if I will race the 200m. I now have a few days to think about it."
Thankfully Horton has plenty of practice in getting his head around a monumental task.
Horton's life changed forever when he shocked the world and upset defending champion Sun Yang of China in the Rio 400m final.
He and teammate Kyle Chalmers (100m freestyle) became Australian swimming's poster boys overnight with their individual Rio success.
Horton said he had finally come back down to earth from Rio thanks to a little help from his friend, Chalmers.
"I think it was good we went through the whole experience together," Horton said.
"We were good friends before it but winning gold medals and the madness of that experience brought us together."
That friendship looked set to be tested after Horton somehow held out Chalmers' trademark whirlwind finish to win a shock national 200m gold in Brisbane - then didn't let his mate forget it.
"I keep giving him crap about it," Horton laughed.
"He keeps going on about his back end in the 100m and how good it is, I was like 'where was your back end in the 200m?'
"It's a bit of banter."
AAPÂ
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