John Newsom will carry an extra trophy in his bag as he sets off globe-trotting again.
The 23-year-old Kiwi ended his eight-month stay in the SAR with victory in the Hong Kong International Triathlon Championships yesterday.
Newsom, who outlasted compatriot and defending champion Stephen Sheldrake, is based in France but spends several months each year travelling the world, funding his lifestyle with prize money from competitions.
'I don't take part in World Cups because I couldn't win enough money from them. I haven't reached that level yet. My swimming still needs to be improve,' he said.
He does not bother staying home and training in New Zealand because his comparatively low ranking in one of the world's leading triathlon nations would make it difficult to receive adequate financial support.
'We can send three competitors to the Sydney Olympics and they're all capable of winning a medal,' he said of the high standard in his homeland.
Ironically, the Hong Kong event did not offer prize money, but Newsom was using it as a final warmup for a race in Phuket, Thailand, in two weeks.