Hutt Valley’s Nick Willis might be a gold short of an Olympic set but there are many – including in all likelihood the man himself – who believe he was the first clean athlete over the line in Beijing, 2008, when he crossed the line third but was later elevated to silver. 

Willis has been a vocal critic of doping in his sport but despite the obvious frustrations, it should not divert attention from the fact he has carved out an outstanding Olympic career while proudly carrying the flag for those 1500m giants of the past – Lovelock, Snell and Walker. 

Willis’ achievements might never be truly immortalised, having operated in the shadow of the aforementioned trio, and being a contemporary of New Zealand’s modern track-and-field giant Valerie Adams. 

Being based of the bulk of his adult life in the United States adds to the disconnect, but it is past time to acknowledge that even if the devout Willis does not add to his medal collection in Tokyo, he shall remain an indelible part of New Zealand’s Olympic story.