John Walker is New Zealander of the Year for his great win in the 1500m at the Montreal Olympics.
Walker was the world record holder at the distance but had to adjust his approach to beat a field of fast finishers.
"Walker's choice: Race before Pace," is how the Herald front-page headline summed up how it was more important to cross the line first than to run a fast time.
The paper reported that about 300m from home Walker took the lead and never relinquished it.
And it compared his win with the greats of the past: "Jack Lovelock won by tactics, Peter Snell won in a canter, but John Walker had to sprint hard to capture New Zealand's third gold medal in Olympic 1500 metre races - continuing this country's dominance in the event."
