Kiwi athletes have an incredible knack of finding their way into elite sports leagues.
Think Stephen Adams in the NBA, Chris Wood in the EPL, or Lydia Ko in the LPGA.
But now, it's the NFL that may be gearing up for a Kiwi takeover thanks to Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei, or Misi as his friends call him.
Aiolupotea-Pei only started playing American football a few years ago, but he’s already leaving his mark on the game.
With no prior knowledge of the game - apart from watching a few Hollywood movies - the Kiwi-born player quickly went on to dominate leagues across the Tasman.
He was chosen as the best defensive player, the best offensive player and the MVP of the Queensland league in just his first season - the only player to win all three awards.
"They ended up naming me Misi the Missile," he said.
But since moving to the States to follow his football, it's been a step up in intensity.
"In Australia, I was a big fish in a little pond. Over here it's like a little fish in the ocean."
"I'm coming here to represent my name, represent my people, represent my country."
But when the times get tough - Misi knows exactly where to find the strongest support - his hometown of Porirua.
“I don't play the game but I'm really proud of my son," his father told 1 NEWS.
"It's not easy, it's hard. To be one child, and be far away. But I'm very proud of him."
Despite the distance and the time difference, Aiolupotea-Pei and his family talk every day.
"My parents made these sacrifices for me to come over. I had no choice but to make it. That's all I told myself, I have no choice but to make it."
His father’s pride was so strong last season that he surprised Aiolupotea-Pei by turning up to one of his junior college games out of the blue.
"I see a guy and then I looked away because I didn't want to make sure that was my dad, because I knew I'd get real emotional," he said.
"We were both crying, and hugged each other because that was the first time I'd seen him play in junior college," his father added.
After graduating, Misi will take the next step of his career with Washington State University, where he's signed as a defensive lineman on a full football scholarship.
After that, there's only one place left to go.
"NFL. That's the goal, but you know, you have to take care of steps that are in between that goal."
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