The West Coast of the South Island has produced prime ministers, rugby league stars and international runners.
George Schroder, who grew up in Hokitika, has the potential to become the first elite international swimmer from the region.
One of his swimming heroes when growing up was Olympic breaststroker Glenn Snyders.
Schroder stamped his mark on New Zealand swimming when he broke Snyders' record for an 18-year-old in the 100m breaststroke at the Queensland state championships last month in a time of 1min 03.55sec.
He won the three open men's breaststroke events at the Canterbury championships at Moana Pool last week.
Schroder, who is dedicated to becoming a top international swimmer, has accepted an invitation from Swimming New Zealand to shift to Auckland to train with the high-performance squad.
''I don't eat rubbish food,'' he said.
''I also do yoga to keep me flexible.''
Schroder has impressed Dave Prattley, his coach at the Aquagym club in Christchurch.
''George has got the look of a future champion,'' he said.
''He is meticulous in what he does and his preparation is well thought out.
''On race day he is able to put himself in his own space and knows exactly what he wants to do. That is one of his huge strengths.''
Prattley is confident Schroder will make the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when he will be 24.
''Rio might be too early in 2016,'' he said.
''Men's breaststrokers tend to be older and the average age at the London Olympics was 26.
Schroder's target this year is the world short-course championships in Qatar in December.
It will be the first time he has represented New Zealand in a major event overseas.
''The Commonwealth Games is unrealistic in the time frame I've got,'' he said.
''I'd be close to the qualifying standard if I had another six months training.''
His best event is the 200m breaststroke in which his personal-best time is 2min 17.5sec and the qualifying mark is 2min 12sec.
''It's a pretty big jump to make in just two months,'' he said.
His long-term goal is to go to the Olympic Games more than once and win medals.
Schroder transferred to Christchurch Boys' High School from Hokitika last year.
He became passionate about swimming when he won a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke at the New Zealand junior championships at Moana Pool in 2008.
''I wasn't the best swimmer in my age-group on the Coast when I was younger,'' Schroder said.
''It was like going to a different country when I raced in Christchurch.
''The step up made me improve more,'' he said.
''Kids who grew up in Christchurch were used to it.
''It was a better pool and faster swimmers in Christchurch and a completely different atmosphere.
''I always swam better and got personal-best times when I raced away from the West Coast.''
Standing on the podium in Dunedin in 2008 was important''It felt good to win a medal,'' he said.
''Since then I've dreamed about swimming fast and standing on the podium at big meets and getting medals.
''Every year I believe in it more and more.''
At a glance
George Schroder
Age: 18.
Home town: Hokitika.
Education: Westland HS, Christchurch Boys' HS.
Sport: Swimming.
Club: Aquagym.
Best times: 50m (29.8sec), 100m (1min 03.55sec, NZ aged 18 record), 200m (2min 17.5sec).
