Brabants says he may not entirely abandon the medal for the stethoscope
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Olympic kayaking gold medallist Tim Brabants has hinted he may continue to compete, despite returning to medicine.
Brabants is set to become a full-time doctor once again, but is tempted by 2009's World Championships - if his new job allows him enough training time.
"I might be there in 2009, we'll see how it goes," Brabants told BBC Sport.
"If I can find a job where I can train to a reasonable level, I could compete in a lower-key event where I can bring one of the younger paddlers on a bit."
Brabants, who won gold in the men's kayak single 1000m event and bronze in the shorter 500m sprint, has already vowed to compete at London 2012, where he will be 35.
He returned to medicine full-time following the 2004 Athens Games, and has announced his intention to do the same following Beijing.
But he said it would be "particularly difficult" to have to settle for watching next year's championships in Lake Banook, Canada.
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OLYMPICS BLOG
BBC Sport's Ollie Williams
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Lake Banook was the scene of his second senior world championship appearance, in 1997.
"If I compete at the Worlds next year I could bring another athlete on, in a crew boat, say," he added.
"I'd never give up medicine for good.
"I can't delay too much or else I'd have to go back to medical school, and that's the last thing I want to do.
"I need to get a decent block of medicine behind me and do a few more exams. I need to start giving a bit back."
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