If winning breeds confidence, triathlete Andrea Hewitt will have a deep reservoir to draw from as she builds to the London Olympics.
The world No.2 confirmed herself as a serious gold medal contender with a hat-trick of victories over the second half of 2011, including beating the year's best field to win the world championship series grand final in Beijing in September.
"It's definitely built my confidence," she said of her streak.
"I've been on top of the podium, so I know I can do it. I've definitely got more faces looking at me during the races as well."
Hewitt followed her triumph in China by taking out the postponed world championship series event in Yokohama the following week, before making it three from three at the World Cup round in Auckland in November.
The 29-year-old Cantabrian is also so far the only triathlete, male or female, to have gained automatic nomination for Olympic selection under Triathlon New Zealand's criteria.
She achieved the feat with her sixth placing on the Olympic course in London in August, finishing just 20sec behind the winner, British world No.1 Helen Jenkins.
The final Tri NZ selection race is the world championships in Sydney in April, when a top-eight finish for the first two New Zealanders home will also secure automatic nomination.
If not, the spots will be filled at the discretion of the selectors.
Either way, Hewitt is eager to have New Zealand company in London.
"It's great to have team-mates with you during the race rather than being by yourself," she said.
"You're looking out for each other, especially on the bike."
Hewitt heads to Australia in February and will contest the Australian sprint championships in Geelong and the World Cup round in Mooloolaba, before tackling the world championships.
While her preparations are targeted at the Olympics, she is promising she won't hold back in Sydney.
"My training is based on a peak in London so I won't be 100 per cent," she said.
"I won't have the freshest legs, but I'll be going all out."
Reuters