IS A PURE GOLD GUY

Tutira mai nga iwi and watched as David turned a gold medal bout into a sparring session.

After every roundMum turned and mouthed, ‘‘are we OK?’’ My brother, Josh, kept flicking her a thumbs up.

"TUTIRA MAI NGA IWI – AUE! TATOU TATOU E ...’’

Stand together peopleAll of us, all of us.

The final bell sounded and he’d done it. Made New Zealand history.

And he’d done it in his opponent’s backyard after almost a year without a coach. It’s been rough since Rik Ellis – a coach and father-like figure of eight years – called it quits.

‘‘You guys were crazy, eh,’’ David said after the fight as he ran over for sweatdrenched hugs. He was straight back to that familiar cuddly big kid.

And there he was... on the podium again, fresh-faced and grinning, clutching that chunky gold medal. When you dye your hair a tacky, artificial gold it’s only polite to sport a matching medal. Action and reaction from the Commonwealth Games Sport, p17, 24-25