Dr John Hellemans is a well know Christchurch Sports Medicine Practitioner, athlete, coach and author. He completed his medical training in his native Holland before immigrating to New Zealand in 1978. John has combined his medical practice with an active sporting and coaching career. He won 6 national triathlon titles in the 80’s and 8 World Championships Age-Group titles in subsequent years. John has coached several athletes to World Championship titles and he has been involved in four Olympic campaigns. John has published widely in the scientific and popular literature. His memoir ‘Never, Ever Give Up?’ was published in 2018. With his background in sports medicine and coaching John has developed a special interest in the difference between exercise for health and training for performance. He is intrigued by the ability of elite athletes to push themselves beyond their physiological boundaries. His research has involved self-experimentation, which has included participating in extreme endurance events. In 2002 he completed the grueling Mizone Endurazone Multisport Race which covered the length of New Zealand. At the age of 60 (2013) he competed in the Hawaii Ironman and two years ago (2018) he took part in the Tour Aotearoa, a 3000km mountain bike odyssey, also covering the length of New Zealand.