Norman Read excelled as a racewalker, and in 1956 won gold for the men's 50km walk at the Melbourne Summer Olympics. However these tramping boots played a slightly less lofty role in his success than his racing shoes. When Norman moved to New Zealand in 1953, he was unimpressed with the lack of race walking in the country. In order to train as effectively as possible, Norman went tramping, through the Tongariro National Park, up Mt Ruapehu and through the Rimutaka Ranges. He suspected the altitude would help - and given his future success, it appears it did!