More than three months later, New Zealand's medal tally at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games has been boosted to a round 50, with wrestler Suraj Singh promoted into an U57kg bronze medal.
Singh, 23, lost his medal fight against Pakistan's Ali Asad at Coventry Arena, but Asad was later suspended, after testing positive for a banned substance.
"It means a huge amount," said Singh. "I've been wrestling since I was was a young kid, so to get this result is really special.
"I wish that I got the medal in Birmingham, but I'm pretty pleased to be on the podium in the record books."
Singh hails from the Bay of Plenty town of Katikati and has received his belated prize at a special ceremony at the NZ Olympic Committee's Auckland headquarters.
"I told my family straight away," he said. "They were so happy about it and really pleased to share this moment with me today."
The medal brings New Zealand's tally to 20 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze, including Tayla Ford's third placing in the women's U68kg wrestling division.
Historically, Kiwis wrestlers have now won 30 Commonwealth Games medals, including 18 bronze.
Asad returned a positive doping sample before competition at Birmingham and the result was confirmed by a positive 'B' sample.
"We have taken a very strong exception to the fact that wrestler Ali Asad was found to be involved in doping," said Pakistan Wrestling Federation chairman Aquil Shah. "He is presently suspended.
"We will endorse and follow all the decisions taken by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Birmingham Games Organising Committee."
Asad told Pakistan outlet The News: "It is nothing less than a shock for me.
"I have never used any performance-enhancing drugs in my life."
