There was a feeling, he recalled, of watching them in the finals and knowing they were "running for you".
That was a feeling he would like to repeat in a couple of years when Dunedin athlete Oli Chignell stepped out on the track, and he was cheering him on from his adopted country, Mr Gorman said.
Mr Gorman has been a driving force behind the establishment of The Precinct Group, a group of businesses in the Vogel St warehouse precinct area in Dunedin.
It came about through a discussion with local businessman David Marsh, from Oakwood Group, on what they could do to make the area of town "get a bit more of a community feel".
The initiative had grown very organically; local businesses had been approached and a drinks evening was held at Gallaway Cook Allan several months ago.
Then it hit him that the group needed an initiative and there was an obvious choice for the first Precinct Hero, Mr Gorman said.
Chignell, who planned to compete in Europe next year, worked at the Precinct Food cafe. His athletic career was essentially self-funded, with assistance from his parents.
That got Mr Gorman thinking how many "other Olis" there were around the precinct, doing extraordinary things but supporting themselves and "under the radar".
Hence Precinct Heroes was born, with the Precinct Group aiming to select three or four a year and help with some financial assistance.
Various events were held to support Chignell and that was followed by an auction this week, giving a total of just under $9000 to present to him, funding his trip to Europe.
Mr Gorman said The Precinct Group was less about the businesses in the area and more about a common mindset wanting to see that area of town thrive, which he believed was already happening.
The fundraising initiatives for Precinct Heroes would vary — he had visions of a concert in the area — and the aim would be to raise about $7500 to $10,000 each time.
"It’s enough to make a difference but not enough to compete with all the other really worthwhile stuff going on," he said.
There was also a "fabulous" community atmosphere developing and that was something Mr Gorman wanted to foster. It would be a group that could provide a common view if the Dunedin City Council wanted input on anything in the area.
He was keen to hear from anyone wanting to join the group, saying they "haven’t got everybody yet".
It was not just for those businesses in the precinct area but for anyone who wanted to see that area of town do well.
