In hospital with a constantly collapsing right lung, active, sport-obsessed 16-year-old Aaron Fleming knew he was in trouble when the doctor uttered the words “spontaneous pneumothorax”. But it was only after the gruelling surgery that saved his life – one that left him with a 30cm-long scar down his chest – he was told the sentence that would change everything: “You’ll never be able to physically exert yourself ever again.”
Queenstown local Aaron, now 42, remembers, “I was always a really ambitious person and my goal was to wear the silver fern for my country, but then I heard those words. That was so incredibly difficult. But those words ended up being my motivation. They became my why and now I’m so thankful for them. They’ve given me so much purpose.”
Since then, Aaron has completed a whopping 22 Ironman endurance races on six different continents, and he now starts his mornings off as a gym instructor, while also working for the Department of Conservation, looking after three national parks.
From magazine page to Ironman reality
Aaron says the Ironman competitions, which see him running full 42km marathons, cycling 180km and swimming almost 4km each time, mean everything to him – and, incredibly, he credits Woman’s Day with inspiring him to take up the sport.
“There I was, a young lad in my twenties, reading my mum’s Woman’s Day, as you do,” laughs Aaron.
The story that started it all
“I saw a story about Tracey Richardson, a mum of four who began racing Ironmans to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis as she had two kids with CF. “I didn’t know much about it, then I realised it was primarily a lung disease, which I could relate to so much. I felt I needed to do something myself.”
“Tracey ended up needing to give up the sport to look after her kids, so I saw an opportunity to continue her legacy. And now Ironman’s saved me – it made me mentally strong at a time when I was mentally vulnerable, and physically strong at a time when my physical fitness and health were in a bad place. “Being so unwell at such a young age has meant I’ve matured pretty quickly and Ironman has taught me a lot. I don’t sweat the small stuff, I have a thick skin and I’m very strong. I might not look it, but I’m the strongest and most resilient person I know.”
From Ironman to The Traitors NZ
It was this unshakable self-belief that inspired Aaron, who also works as a motivational speaker, to apply for the third season of
The Traitors NZ because he knows “what a truly hard day in the office looks like”.
He explains, “I’m somebody who is most comfortable with being uncomfortable. I’m always looking for the next challenge, so something like this is perfect for me. I’m an extrovert and I love being able to pass on energy to others. I don’t mind the spotlight and I’m a bit of a larrikin.”
“But I’m going into the game with a strategy. The Aaron in this game is very different compared to the Aaron that people know in real life!”
The self-confessed “man of mystery” is keeping mum about whether he is a Faithful or a Traitor on the show, but he describes it as “an unreal experience and so much fun”. He’s thankful for the chance, but he’s now ready to focus his attention on preparing for his 23rd Ironman race in October.
This one means everything
And touchingly, this one will be more special than most as one of his biggest dreams will be achieved – he’ll finally be pulling on that silver fern.
Aaron enthuses, “I’ll be representing my country at the World Championship. I can’t help but think about that 16-year-old kid who got knocked down so badly and had this dream. I’m going to be so emotional when I get there.
“I’ll have gone full circle for me to represent New Zealand on the biggest stage – the Olympics of my sport. It’s going to be the most incredible ride. This year will definitely go down in the books as a big one!”
The third season of The Traitors NZ premieres 31 May on Three and ThreeNow.
