Kiwi sporting legend Valerie Adams has received the ultimate prize and been named Dame in the New Years honours list.
It makes her New Zealand's youngest-ever Dame at the age of 32, beating Dame Susan Devoy by two years.
The double Olympic champion missed out on a hat-trick of shot put golds in Rio, winning silver after being pipped at the final throw by American Michelle Carter.
However she says this recognition more than makes up for that disappointment.
"I feel quite humbled but also quite giggly about it," she said. "It's something you can't prepare for it because it's something you don't work towards.
"You work towards becoming an Olympic champion, whereas this you don't know - so I think it will take a bit of time to sink in."
Dame Valerie found out about her new title a little over a week ago, and despite clear directions to keep the news quiet, she said she couldn't hide it from one person in particular.
"I got a letter saying 'congratulations, you have been selected'. It also swore me to secrecy, but I needed to tell someone - so I told my husband who was wondering why I was running around, jumping up and down saying 'this is amazing'.
"That was awesome to be able to share that moment with him. It was really choice."
Despite missing out on the top step of the podium in Rio, Dame Valerie said her biggest career achievement may have been her silver medal after dealing with two years of injuries.
"I had a massive struggle to get to the Games, and if anyone had asked me in January if I was going to be there, then wholeheartedly, deep down, I probably would have said no.
"To walk away with a medal after being pipped in the last round, I was proud of myself because I knew I had left all my heart and soul out on the field and I couldn't have done anything more.
"I wanted to win more than anything else, but she was just better than me on the day."
A role model to young women throughout New Zealand, Dame Valerie is keen to see the next generation of female sporting stars come through - but she has a few words of advice.
"I have always let them know it's possible to be amazing. I was blessed with talents both physically and genetically but I had to do something with it.
"Hard work always pays off, but you have to make the sacrifice. It's whether or not they want to do it.
"If you have that want, that passion - then the world is your oyster."
Newshub.
