By Rebecca Wright
Of the many honours Sir Peter Snell has achieved over the years, today's is the one that is taking some time getting used to.
It was a sense of history and tradition along with pressure from his family that convinced Sir Peter to accept his knighthood.
It's been nearly 50 years since he stepped on to the track in Rome and going to win in the 800m final.
Four years later in 1964 in Tokyo, he went in the favourite and with the expectations of a nation. He took gold in both the 800 and 1500 metres and a year later and at the peak of his career he retired.
"I couldn't really afford to get married, I didn't have a car - couldn't afford that - and yet I was an Olympic champion and world record holder," Sir Peter says. "It seems so strange when you compare with what it would have been today."
Sir Peter has since forged a successful academic career in the US, earning a PhD in sports physiology.
And it's science and sport which keep him close to New Zealand.
"I can come back for athletics still and I can come back for science," he says. "It's worked out so well and I'm so grateful."
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