When Waipu real estate worker Fiona Southorn is working hard on the roads on her bicycle she's doing it to challenge herself to be the best she can.
A wonderful by-product is that the end results - this time in the form of a Paralympics bronze medal from the Londongames - are a great inspiration to others.
Southorn picked up New Zealand's first medal of the Paralympic Games in London with a bronze in the cycling C5 individual women's pursuit.
Yesterday, hundreds of people packed Waipu as the town showed its appreciation.
A parade celebrating Southorn's latest achievement kicked off at 1.30pm and the sportswoman was amazed, and humbled, by the support.
"Waipu gives me wonderful support and it's a great to see that [in the parade]," she said.
She said the Paralympics was a great way to focus young people on the challenges faced by the disabled community and how they could overcome those issues.
Southorn said she competes to constantly test herself.
