Former long-distance runner and New Zealand Olympian Mike Ryan, 77, was captured on camera drinking alcohol from his shoe at the Halberg Awards on Thursday night.

Ryan was recorded drinking with the Short & Wide Productions team on their Instagram story.

Dressed to the nines, the former bronze medalist is filmed holding out one of his shoes while beer is poured into it.

Embraced by a member of the Short & Wide Productions team, the pair butt their shoes together in a toast before skulling the beer from their shoes in what's known as a "shoey".

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The pair are continually filmed as they attempt to drink all of the alcohol from their shoes while other Halberg Awards attendees watch on.

Mike Ryan in full swing. Photo / Instagram @shortandwidenz
Mike Ryan in full swing. Photo / Instagram @shortandwidenz

The ritual can be commonly found at parties in New Zealand or across-the-ditch, with Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo rising it's popularity in 2016 after a race victory.

The "champagne shoey" has since become a regular occurrence for Ricciardo after the Red Bull driver tops the podium at a race.

Last year Ricciardo encouraged actor Sir Patrick Stewart to have a drink from his shoe following a victory, to which the actor accepted.

In their video, Short & Wide Productions claim that this is the second annual year in which Ryan has took part in a shoey at the New Zealand sports awards night.

Ryan first came to fame in New Zealand in 1967 when he became the national cross-country champion and represented New Zealand at the world championships.

Born in Scotland in 1941, Ryan moved to New Zealand in 1963.

While living in the Waikato, Ryan teamed up with New Zealand middle-distance runner John Davies who helped establish him as one of the worlds best marathon runners.

As a marathon runner, he also won the Fukuoka marathon in 1966 in a New Zealand record time of two hours, 14 minutes and five seconds.

Ryan also won New Zealand track titles over 5000m, 10,000m, and six mile runs.

In 2008 he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

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