Sweet deal for Berry

The definition of a career defining moment for athletes can be appearing on a cereal box.

It's happened for Wanganui triathlete Nick Berry with his image now on a box of Nutri-Grain in supermarkets.

However Berry, 21, doesn't see it as a career defining moment as he didn't win anything to get there. "I was on a billboard for the world champs last year and the lady who organised that asked me to do this Nutri-Grain one," is Berry's explanation of how he got the exposure.

And Berry admits Nutri-Grain is not his first choice of breakfast cereal, "I do eat it a little bit but not that often."

"Mum and Dad bought a box, they're really proud and I bought my gran a box because I knew she would like it."

Berry says he was not paid a lot to be on the cereal box but says it was good money for a university student. He is studying accounting at Massey University in Auckland and will graduate in June.

He's also training for the national triathalon and duathalon championships in March.

"I have a wee way to go before the big time, I only have one sponsor," said Berry.

Only an elite group of athletes have made an appearance on cereal boxes including swimmer Michael Phelps on Corn Flakes and basketball superstar Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods, who have appeared on the box of American cereal Wheaties.