I have met many talented, totally self-obsessed athletes in my time in sports journalism.

But 20-year-old Tauranga mountain biker Tristan Haycock may be the most unselfish elite athlete I have had the pleasure to know.

He has competed in the tough, 24-hour solo event since he was 16. He got so good at it he won the World Under-23 title as a 17-year-old and continues to be in the top five for his age in the world.

But his proudest achievement is setting up the Mountain Bike Tauranga Youth Academy two years ago, that now involves more than 70 athletes.

'Coming through the ranks, I was quite frankly disappointed with the lack of pathways and support,” says Tristan, 'so thought I would do something about it.

'I wanted to get into coaching, so that inspired me to make something happen.”

Last Thursday was the final day of the fifth training camp he has run over the holidays for seven to 18-year-olds.

'Working with over 40 riders, over three or four days, has tested my patience, organisation, planning and professionalism,” says Tristan.

'I can confidently say that there was not one rider who went home disappointed. Each new camp presents its own challenges. I have grown as a coach, a mentor and an athlete but, most importantly, as a person. Keeping it real is what I'm all about.

'I am really proud that with the opportunity to influence so many young riders with a positive, relaxed culture, my vision is slowly being fulfilled.”

There were plenty of ups and downs along the way.

'After coaching, teaching, mentoring, entertaining, mothering, fathering and encouraging over 40 kids, we had a few mishaps including a broken collarbone, a trip to hospital, a couple of tantrums, a fair few messy kitchens to clean up and multiple crashes.

'But there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the next generation grasping that new skill or tip-toeing down that ‘impossible line' to mould these young kids into the great people of tomorrow, while sharing in the most epic sport on the planet.”

Tristan is studying for a Sport and Recreation degree at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, and would love to be a full-time coach.

All sports can benefit from his selfless, can-do attitude.

Well done Tristan. You are an inspiration to us all.