In April this year Taiko Torepe-Ormsby did what no other Kiwi has ever done before — swimming 50 metres freestyle in 21.86 seconds — setting a new national record.
"That swim was something special. If you said this to me two years ago that this would happen, I would've laughed but that's just the effect the United States has had on my swimming."
That history making swim cemented him a spot at the Paris Olympics — in fact, that time would've placed him in the final in Tokyo.
To compete at the highest level was a big reason he made the decision to move to Wisconsin University to study and swim two years ago.
"I've got six coaches, when here I'd have one for the whole club basically. Then there's support staff, the physios, the academic help I'm getting as well," he said.
The 20-year-old recently returned home to Christchurch, linking back up with his Wharenui Swimming Club coach Carl Gordon, who is excited by Torepe-Ormsby's inclusion in the Paris squad.
"If he can get into the second round and make the semi's in an event like 50 free, it all becomes such a head game — who can handle the pressure and who can put their race together.
"You're talking tenths of a second, one tiny little mistake can make a massive difference ... if he gets it right, then let's see," said Gordon.
At just 20 years old, Torepe-Ormsby is already thinking about the future — he and his Kiwi coach both believe the best is yet to come.
"He's only 20 which is really young for a sprinter, most of these guys are men — been doing it for a while, understand their bodies, the pressure, all these sorts of things.
"But he could go 2028 LA, 2032 Brisbane and still only be 29 years old ... the future could be anything," said Gordon.
Torepe-Orsmby hopes his sporting success has a much deeper ripple effect.
"Swimming is not necessarily a sport Māori kids are getting into and yet we're surrounded by water our whole life.
"Setting an example for those younger rangatahi is something I want to be doing — and if I can do it, so can they," he said.
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