Rotorua's Ray Lichtwark has fallen just short of defeating hypothermia and Ironman New Zealand in Taupo.
Lichtwark was invited to compete as a hall-of-fame member on Saturday, having completed the first Ironman New Zealand 30 years ago.
He got off to a great start recording the fastest swim for an athlete in the men's 65-69 age group race on Saturday morning. However, he said he started losing balance during the last 20km of the bike leg and was tested at the transition area.
"My plan was to lie down and rest for a bit. But I didn't imagine it to be as bad as it was."
Medical staff told him he had hypothermia.