Ironman's journey from lung surgery to legacy

Twenty-five years ago, Aaron Fleming was told he’d never physically exert himself again.

This Sunday, he’ll stand on the start line of the men’s IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France – a moment that marks not only the pinnacle of his athletic journey, but the fulfilment of a dream once thought impossible.

Fleming, 42, from Queenstown, has spent the past two decades defying medical odds and redefining what it means to be resilient. At just 16, he twice underwent major lung surgery and was told by his surgeon that sport would be ‘from the couch’. The physical toll was immense, but the mental toll was even greater.

“For the following years life was really tough,” Fleming says. “The slightest exertion would bring back both pain and fear that I’d overdo it and end up back in hospital. Wearing a backpack was even a struggle. I became weak and I struggled mentally.”

But Fleming’s story is not one of surrender – it’s one of grit, purpose, and transformation.

Growing up in Taupō, he was captivated by the IRONMAN New Zealand event that moved to the town in 1999. He volunteered, studied the race for a high school geography project, and dreamed of competing one day. That dream took shape in 2005, when he read a Woman’s Day article about Tracey Richardson, a mother of four who raced IRONMAN to raise awareness for children with Cystic Fibrosis.

“I connected so much with what someone with CF would endure, only I had a chance to recover where a lot of people with CF do not, many sadly lived a shortened life,” he says. “I emailed Tracey and said I wanted to continue her legacy and that I would enter the 2006 IRONMAN event. Starting from scratch, absolute ground zero, the rest is history.”

His first swim was half a length of the pool and his first run just four lamp posts long. But he trained relentlessly and made it to the start line of IRONMAN New Zealand in 2006. A storm shortened the race that year, so Fleming returned in 2007 to complete the full distance – and hasn’t looked back since.

Over the next 18 years, Fleming set himself a new goal: to complete an IRONMAN on every continent that hosts the event. From Lake Placid, USA, to Melbourne, Australia; Malaysia to South Africa; and most recently Brazil, he’s done just that – combining his love of travel with a passion for sport and a commitment to staying healthy.

“I’m a back-of-the-pack Kiwi battler. In fact, I’ve been last on occasions, and I’m proud of it,” he says. “Getting to a start line is winning. Finishing is also winning. It’s not about podiums for me, it’s about defying the odds.”

 

Each race has brought its own challenges and triumphs. Lake Placid remains his toughest, raced just months after a bike crash that left him with a broken arm and head injuries. Malaysia tested his endurance in suffocating heat and humidity. Brazil dazzled with its party atmosphere and language barriers. And through it all, he's built lasting friendships with fellow athletes around the world.

“I now have IRONMAN friends all over the world,” he says. “A special bond I have is with Jon Breivold, a professional athlete from Norway. We met in South Africa in 2023 and have kept in regular contact ever since. We’ll meet again in Nice and are already planning a dinner together with his family.”

But Fleming’s journey isn’t just about personal achievement, it’s about giving back. Through his races, he’s raised over $40,000 for charity, much of it for the Cystic Fibrosis Association. He’s spoken at schools across New Zealand, written a book, and inspired countless others to chase their own impossible dreams.

“This sport has always been about three things for me,” he said. “To prove the medical world wrong. To become an IRONMAN. And to use sport to give back, to help others, and to inspire.”

In 2024, Fleming was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to triathlon and community work – a recognition that underscores the impact of his journey far beyond the finish line.

Now, as he prepares for his 20th IRONMAN in Nice, the significance of the moment is not lost on him.

“This opportunity means so much to me, there is 20 years of sheer determination and gutsy self-belief behind it. It’s huge,” Fleming says. “As a teenager my goal was to represent my country in sport – I was a gymnast at the time. I thought my poor health had stripped me of that dream. I never saw the opportunity to race the World Championship being on my bingo card.”

Fleming will wear the silver fern with pride, racing without support crew but surrounded by the IRONMAN community he’s come to know so well.

“I have no doubt that this will be my most emotional race,” he said. “Thinking about it now gives me goosebumps. I can feel the nerves at the start line, I can feel the tears of the finish chute. The volunteers at the finish line better be warned – it will be emotional!”

For Fleming, IRONMAN didn’t just change his life – it saved it. And next weekend in Nice, he’ll show the world what it means to live with purpose, race with heart, and finish with pride.