Heiner came agonisingly close to winning an Olympic medal when he placed fourth in the men’s finn class at Tokyo 2020.

Having finished just short of a podium place, Heiner said he would have grasped the opportunity to compete at Paris 2024 - but his event was dropped.

The 34-year-old, a winner of three world medals including laser gold in 2014, admitted that the decision by World Sailing left him facing an ultimatum.

"I basically had two options," Heiner told insidethegames.

"One was quitting or the other was going back into the laser class where I came from five years ago before I switched to the finn.

"But as an athlete you always want to make the next step and learn new skills and always go forward.

"For me going back into the laser class would have felt like doing the same study, reading the same books and just trying to do one little step better.

"I didn’t think that would have given me the energy to do it 110 per cent.

"Tokyo was the last shot I had.

"I sailed the 49ers, the lasers and a little bit of 470s so all disciplines.

"I know what it takes to sail the different classes and for me the finn is the most beautiful to sail.

"If there was another shot towards Paris I would have definitely taken it but times are changing and you can’t look back."

After mulling over which path to take in his career, Heiner decided to seize the chance to represent Team JAJO at The Ocean Race.

The Dutch team is skippered by compatriot Jelmer van Beek and features Danish Olympic gold medallist Martin Kirketerp.

"I think the beauty with The Ocean Race is that there are opportunities to keep you going in sailing," said Heiner.

"If you take track and field, after you have had your prime you are done and go to work in the office or be a coach whereas in sailing there are still many chances to compete at such a high level.

"That’s why The Ocean Race and Sail GP disciplines attract a lot of Olympic sailors that are done with the Olympics and are looking for the next step in their life."

Team JAJO finished second behind WindWhisper in the in-port race in Aarhus yesterday and are also in the same position in the overall standings for the VO65 Sprint Cup.

"I had a childhood dream of winning Olympic gold and winning The Ocean Race," added Heiner.

"As Olympic sailors, you prepare to be at your utmost best and you want to be at the Olympics with everything under your control ticked off.

"It has been different within this team.

"Martin and I haven’t sailed together until two days ago so it was a very different approach but you are still trying to maximise the time you have and adapt as quickly as possible.

"I think sailors are really good at adapting because we are always living in a changeable environment.

"We came second in the in-port races and the team is going smoothly.

"There is a lot of sharing of knowledge and for Martin and myself we come in fresh and have fitted in easily.

"The Ocean Race was a childhood dream, so it’s great that you can change focus and achieve your goals."