Olympic champion Finn Butcher — now there is a description he will never tire of hearing — arrived back in Auckland yesterday with a handful of members of the New Zealand team.
The smile was still wide and the gold medal still looked just fine around his neck.
The eyes, well, they suggested Central Otago’s favourite son was ready for some deserved rest before heading back on to the world canoe slalom circuit.
"It’s been a bit of a whirlwind but I’m pretty stoked to come home," Butcher told RNZ on his arrival.
"I’m looking forward to getting back to Central Otago and taking this thing down there. It’s going to be pretty cool."
Butcher later told the Otago Daily Times he might pop home to Alexandra on Monday for a couple of days.
"It’ll be pretty short. I will be back up to Auckland next weekend and then I’ll shoot off to Europe again."
Butcher provided one of many New Zealand highlights at the Paris Olympics when he charged to victory in the wildly entertaining kayak cross event.
His effort was part of a record New Zealand tally of 10 gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.
"I think the team was pretty special. Ten golds is, yeah, I don’t know if anyone expected that.
"We’re all super stoked. The team in general is working really well together. It’s cool to see everyone else do well."
The days since he won his gold medal in Paris had offered him a chance to reflect on the greatest moment of his sporting career.
He will never forget the moment he knew the gold was his.
"It was just a huge adrenaline dump coming out of the last upstream towards the finish," Butcher told RNZ.
"Just looking to the side, like, oh my God, is this actually happening?
"It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. It was pretty special to stand on top of the podium and see that flag get raised."
Butcher knows all the top whitewater kayakers well after spending years on the world circuit.
But a bonus of the Olympics — Paris was his debut — was getting to know Kiwi athletes from a range of other sports.
"It’s been awesome to meet a few people and hang out in general. Almost everyone has been really welcoming, and I’ll definitely be keeping in touch."
After his Olympic commitments were finished, Butcher enjoyed watching his New Zealand cycling team-mates in action, and was there when high jumper Hamish Kerr leapt to gold.
His next big commitment is the fourth round of the canoe slalom world cup in Ivrea, Italy, on September 12-15.
The world cup final follows a week later in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain.
Meanwhile, Lisa Carrington — who joined Butcher as a New Zealand flagbearer at the Olympic closing ceremony — was also in reflective mood when she arrived home with her three gold medals yesterday.
"I still can’t believe we managed to pull off the three golds," Carrington told media.
Kayak sprint’s greatest star relished being part of a New Zealand team that won a record 10 gold medals.
"You never start out knowing that’s what is going to happen but it’s so cool to see other athletes performing so well.
"It’s really special to be a part of that."
There was some sadness the excitement of Paris was over but she was feeling a huge amount of pride.
Carrington is ready for some simple pleasures as she takes stock of her astonishing achievements.
"I haven’t seen my dog in four months, so that is a really big thing. And, also, I haven’t really had a good coffee in four months, so that will also be something that is on my list."
