Ironman New Zealand has announced the first of two Tony Jackson Scholarships for 2019, with a surprise visit to Rotorua revealing the news to recipient Joshua Te Kowhai, also known as the 'Sheriff of Koutu'.
Te Kowhai, 44, was nominated by his partner Tairi Ford, with incredible support from the local community inspired by Te Kowhai and the work he does, especially with local youth.
A former New Zealand rugby and boxing representative, Te Kowhai's life was turned upside down in 2004 when a serious car crash left doctors doubting his ability to walk again, let alone consider the ultimate sporting event.
Ford said the phrase 'nothing is impossible to the willing mind' was a true reflection of Te Kowhai's character.
"He has always been a very giving man, an active member of his local community, an active sportsman, and a person who always sees the potential in everyone.
"He was left wrecked by the accident in 2004 when living in Australia. He broke all the bones in his ankles, shattered both knees, smashed his jaw and all of his teeth and broke both wrists and arms," Ford said.
"He was told by doctors he would never walk, play sports and would need to look at a new career. At that time he was at the peak of his rugby career, playing professional rugby for the Brumbies feeder team.
Ford said depression set in quickly for Te Kowhai.
"The discipline and determination that he learned playing top-level sport changed his focus and helped him to set new goals and form a plan.
"With the help and support of a great rehab physiotherapist, he began writing a goal and a plan in a notebook. He wrote about the positives and the negatives about his new way of life. He set the goal to walk again."
After three months of intensive rehab and hard work, he achieved that goal, however his return to rugby lasted only 60 minutes before one tackle took him back to square one.
He returned home at the end of 2004 and early the next year enrolled in a personal training course.
It has been through becoming a personal trainer that he has gone on to develop key relationships with at-risk youth, as well as training elite New Zealand representatives across various sporting realms.
Josh Te Kowhai pictured with partner Tairi Ford (right), Knisha Ruland, and son Atlas Te Kowhai at the surprise announcement. Photo / Supplied
Ford said her partner took on responsibility beyond his own family, hence the nickname.
"If there are ever issues in his local community Josh is the one who gets to the bottom of the matter, that is how he became known as the 'Sheriff of Koutu'.
His commitment to the community extends to Ironman where he has acted as a volunteer in transition for the past five years as well as helping at other events like the Tarawera Ultra, IronMāori Ironman camps, and other off-road events.
Te Kowhai now runs his gym out of the local rugby club, where he offers training spaces for free and promotes boxing classes for children and their parents to bond and get fit together.
He first became involved in triathlon after some mates talked him into giving a half IronMāori a go.
He loves the social aspect of the sport, the people he meets when training and at events who have now become lifelong friends.
He has lined up at the IronMāori Half for the past five years.
The scholarship will see Te Kowhai take on his ultimate dream of competing in Ironman New Zealand 2019.
"To prove to myself I can do it. To feel that sense of achievement and to show people that you can do it regardless of what you have been through.
"I want to inspire the children that I work with, I want to show them that hard work does pay off. Too often children are always told do this, do that, be better, I want to literally show them," Te Kowhai said.
"I also want to motivate the adults I work with to show them that anything is possible to the willing mind."
Te Kowhai's nomination received widespread support from the local community.
Barret said Te Kowhai set out to build and lead awareness of physical wellbeing within his community and has managed to inspire the most vulnerable communities to understand the importance of self-care.
