3.56am.
He's got the time down to a precise art.
Any later and he doesn't get to swim practise on time. Any earlier and he doesn't get enough sleep.
"It's the only way I can fit everything in at the moment," says Damian Badenhorst of his wake-up time.
In big environments I tend to get big results so I expect to get my best time yet.
- Damian Badenhorst
The South Yunderup boy has a lot to juggle at 17 years old - studying five ATAR subjects at Austin Cove Baptist College, Olympic level swim training and when he gets a chance he plays a video game or two to switch off.
When he spoke to the Mail this week he had just landed in Adelaide where he will compete in the 100m Butterfly Tokyo Olympic Trials on Thursday.
It will be no easy feat to get beyond this event.
He reached his personal best of 55.11sec to make the qualifying time but will now be up against 60 other swimmers from around Australia whose times have come in under the required 56.6sec.
Damian is currently ranked 30th.
Only the top two will be Tokyo-bound - and only if they come in under the Olympic qualifying time of 51.7sec.
Damian says the crowds at big events and the adrenalin of competing against elite-level swimmers were "a big boost" for him.
The lack of competitions and events, including the cancellation of Nationals, in the past two years due to COVID, were difficult for him and he hadn't shown his best colours yet.
"In big environments I tend to get big results so I expect to get my best time yet," he says.
It's certainly a big event with Australia's best swimmers at the Adelaide pool this week.
Damian will be up against gold medalists from Rio in 2016, Mack Horton and Kyle Chalmers.
"All the legendary swimmers are swimming here, it's pretty inspirational and exciting to see how they go," Damian says.
"I love watching Kyle Chambers, he's just a powerhouse, he's probably going to back up his Olympic win again this time round.
"He is more of a freestyler and I'm more of a butterflier but to swim against him one day would be hell wicked."
Damian has medalled at Nationals every year since he started swimming competitively in 2017 at the age of 13 where he stormed to a gold for 100m Butterfly and silver for 200m Butterfly.
The lead up to Adelaide has been jam packed for him with seven arduous swim sessions and two big gym workouts a week.
Cheering him on in Adelaide are his mum and dad, 15-year-old sister Jade and head coach Brooke Kemp of Rockingham Swim Club.
"If I make it into the Olympics team, obviously there will be no break, but if not I will be having a little holiday with my family," he says.