National windsurfer Leonard Ong will always remember how his maiden Olympic outing made him realise the depth of commitment needed to fuel such a campaign.

The 23-year-old finished 34th out of 36 competitors in the RS:X windsurfing competition, but left Rio feeling inspired by the commitment of fellow competitors.

"At the Olympics... it's just those few guys who are at the top, and it's amazing to see how they peak after training so hard for four years, or even eight years, just for those four days of competition."

The Nanyang Technological University undergraduate also realised the toll an Olympic outing takes on not just the athlete but also those around them. Referring to his coach of two years, Sakda Sakulfaeng, Ong said: "He was there with me and he really helped me a lot by pushing me.

"Coaches (are) also friends and sometimes psychologists, and can balance those roles very well."

Ong remains unsure if he will bid to qualify for a second Olympics, but if he does, he now knows how much more he has to do.

"If you want to do your best and you really want it, you have to plan it out properly," he said. "Nothing comes by chance; there's a lot of deliberate planning and preparation to be done."