New Zealand cyclist claims Commonwealth Sports Award
Monday 8 November 2010, 8:45AM
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New Zealand’s world champion cyclist Sam Webster has been awarded Outstanding Young Achiever at the Commonwealth Sports Awards in United Kingdom today.
The Auckland 19 year old earned the award for the 2009-2010 season after his brilliant performances at the 2009 UCI Junior World Track Cycling Championships where he won three gold medals in the sprint, team sprint and keirin.
Webster was presented the honour at a glittering function in Birmingham today (NZ time).
“I feel absolutely over the moon to receive this award,” Webster said from Birmingham. “This really tops off the great year I had in 2009 and for me some realisation that my first year in the senior ranks in 2010 has been quite reasonable as well.
“I was just humbled to be here among so many great athletes from around the world. It was really special to see the names of the winners from the past like Michael Owen from football, Usain Bolt and of course Sir Chris Hoy who won the overall Commonwealth of the Year Award in 2008.”
Webster moved up to the senior ranks this year, finishing sixth in the keirin and fifth in the team sprint at his first elite world championships and two medals at the Commonwealth Games in the team sprint and individual sprint.
“My first year as a senior I had some solid results. There was a lot to learn, I made plenty of mistakes and you find out about some of the little things that I had not thought about before that make a difference.
“While it is fantastic to win those world titles as a junior and this award, I am just as encouraged to know that I am on the right progressive path now as a senior rider.”
Webster said he was buoyed that the likes of Hoy was still able to be a world class cyclist at the age of 34.
“The thing about track sprinting is that you get stronger with age essentially and can keep going as long as Chris Hoy has done. I’ve got some big goals short term and long term but I will carry on taking each training day as it comes and keep heading out on my bike every day having fun and going out to win.”
He was joined by squash administrator Susie Simcock, who earned a lifetime achievement award, and disabled swimmer Sophie Pascoe as finalists from New Zealand in Birmingham today.