This Sunday, he will 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.
Mr 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," he said.
"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."
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 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.
A storm shortened the race that year, so Mr Fleming returned in 2007 to complete the full distance — and has not looked back.
Over the next 18 years, Mr Fleming set himself a new goal: to complete an Ironman on every continent that hosts the event. From Lake Placid, in the United States, to Melbourne, Australia; Malaysia to South Africa; and most recently Brazil.
"I’m a back-of-the-pack Kiwi battler. In fact, I’ve been last on occasions, and I’m proud of it," he said.
"Getting to a start line is winning. Finishing is also winning. It’s not about podiums for me, it’s about defying the odds."
But his journey is not just about personal achievement, it is about giving back.
Through his races, he has raised more than $40,000 for charity, much of it for the Cystic Fibrosis Association. He has spoken at schools across New Zealand, written a book, and inspired countless others to chase their dreams.
"This sport has always been about three things for me. 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, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to triathlon and community work. He is the operations director for the Department of Conservation for the southern South Island.
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."
"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."
"I have no doubt that this will be my most emotional race.
"Thinking about it now gives me goose bumps. 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!"— Allied Media
