Ironman Cameron Brown hopes his inclusion on the New Year Honours list will inspire others - especially kids - to follow their triathlon dreams.
Brown, who has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, has been involved with triathlon for 30 years, and competes in the Ironman discipline.
He has podiumed at numerous Ironman World Championships, and in 2016 he extended his world record as the oldest winner of any Ironman race.
He says he had no idea he would be awarded the honour.
"[I was] pretty overwhelmed," he says.
"It's a high honour to receive it and [wife] Jen had been working with Craig Waugh from Triathlon when I was away overseas racing and I had no idea until I got the letter in September."
Brown hopes he's helped other people follow their triathlon dreams.
"You never think about it, but you know just pretty special to receive it. I hope I've inspired a few people along the way and like Rick Wells inspired me," he says.
"That's all you hope for, that you inspire people to be active and get out there and do the sport of triathlon."
Brown became the Weetbix TRYathlon ambassador in 2016, and it's something he loves.
"I don't know how many Weetbix triathlons I've done now with putting medals over kids' necks and that's the cool things you get to do," he says.
"Every year just thousands and thousands of Kiwi kids get into the sport so it's pretty cool."
Brown says he couldn't have succeeded without the support of those around him.
"It's just not my effort in the sport - it's an individual sport but you need your team around you," he says.
Especially the help from his parents.
"They still come and watch all my races and my mum still cooks me my salmon pasta every time she can, and it's pretty special."
Brown will use his higher profile to help others. He is currently an ambassador for Melanoma New Zealand and in partnership with Ironman New Zealand to raise awareness for sun safety and the importance of regular skin checks.
Newshub.