Evergreen Caribbean sprinter Kim Collins will make a return visit to the Stawell Gift as a key part of his fifth Olympic Games buildup.
Collins, the 2003 100m world champion, turns 36 before the 131st running of the celebrated handicap event over the Easter weekend.
The scratch marker from St Kitts and Nevis was run out in the semi-finals of last year’s Gift before going on to win surprise bronze medals in the 100m and 4x100m relay at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea.
And he shows no sign of slowing down in his mid-30s, having clocked 6.56 seconds in a recent indoor 60m race in Birmingham.
Race organisers were thrilled to have enticed Collins back to Stawell.
“Kim had a fantastic time in Australia and he was an extremely popular figure at Central Park,” said Stawell Athletic club president Trevor Skurrie.
“We’re delighted that he’s keen to come back, especially in such an important year with the London 2012 Olympic Games just around the corner.”
Collins has broken the 10-second barrier four times over 100m in a decorated career.
He has contested three Olympic finals, with his best finishes being sixth in the 100m in 2004 and the 200m in 2008.
Collins also won the 100m at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
He initially retired from international track and field in 2009, before making a successful return to the sport.