Canberra's Alex Bird claimed a ''miracle'' victory in the sprint event at the Australia track championships in Adelaide.
The 26-year-old surprised even himself when he defeated 2010 world championship silver medallist and defending champion Shane Perkins in a hotly contested final to claim the gold medal on Saturday night.
''I still can't believe it myself,'' Bird said. ''I was pretty shocked in the end. I never thought I would ever break through to win an individual title so this is just bloody amazing.''
Coming into the event Bird, the 2009 and 2010 sprint bronze medallist, was hoping to make it into the final for fifth to eighth place but after recording the fourth fastest time in the initial round of qualifying he had to change his plans.
After breezing through the quarter-finals Bird drew fastest qualifier South Australia's Matthew Glaetzer in the semi, and after coming from behind in both of their semi-finals, used that experience against Glaetzer to his advantage as he again came from behind against Perkins in the final.
''I saw myself in that situation again in the final and once I had done it to the fastest qualifier [Glaetzer] I knew that I could do this here,'' Bird said.
''Maybe if I had not seen that situation in the semi I might not have been ready for it in the final. It certainly prepared me well,'' he said.
The win has forced Bird to re-evaluate his plans for the rest of the year, including the London Olympics.
But he must first qualify for the Games and then perform well at the world titles in Melbourne in April.
''This result was a good step but I don't think it guarantees selection as the selection policy is very open,'' he said.
''I've just got to keep pushing for selection in training.''
The 26-year-old rates his win on Saturday as a career highlight.
''I have spent a long time putting effort in and not being particularly good... and through some miracle I've pulled it off.'' he said.
Canberra's Daniel Ellis was fourth in the event, falling to Glaetzer in the bronze medal race.
Fellow ACT rider Catherine Culvenor claimed silver in the 500m time trial and was fourth in the women's sprint after losing to reigning world champion Anna Meares in the semis.
The ACT team of Rebecca Wiasak, Allison Rice and Ailie McDonald claimed the silver medal in the women's 3000m team pursuit.
The ACT men's sprint team of Dan Ellis, Nathan Hart and Bird were disqualified in their semi-final against NSW after being judged to have incorrectly changed riders.
Bird failed to back up his victory yesterday and was eliminated from the men's keirin when he finished last in the repechage.
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