John Hellemans
Triathlete & Author
Dr John Hellemans was a competitive triathlete from the 1980s until 2018 and was the World Masters Triathlon Champion eight times between 1994 and 2012. Hellemans won six national titles and represented New Zealand at several world championship events and the 1990 Commonwealth Games. He has coached a large number of internationally successful triathletes. John is a Sports Medicine Practitioner and advisor for some of New Zealand's best performing triathletes.
John has published four books, most recently Never, Ever Give Up? A Memoir. Published in 2018 it explores the motivation that kept Hellemans going back for more and that saw him competing in the gruelling Hawaii Ironman in searing heat at the age of 60.
John was named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2020 for services to triathlon.