Glenn O'Shea.
History was created last night with cyclist Glenn O’Shea becoming the first person to win the Bendigo Advertiser-WIN Television Sports Star of the Year Award three times.
The champion from Eaglehawk made it a treble of gold statues following his omnium triumph and silver medal in the team pursuit at the 2012 track world championships in Melbourne.
With O’Shea in Belgium, the award was accepted by his mother Jenny from Victorian Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty.
“Glenn is very disappointed not to be here tonight, but he has to follow his career,’’ Jenny O’Shea said.
“He’s very honoured to win this award for a third time.
“We’re very proud of him, we were there when he won his world championship in Melbourne.”
The cycling star won his two previous Bendigo Advertiser-WIN Television and bankmecu-backed Sports Star Awards in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
The Sports Star panel used judges’ discretion to present the award to O’Shea a third time following a spectacular 12 months on the cycling track.
Among a swag of medals was silver in the team pursuit at his debut Olympic Games in London last year.
O’Shea joined an elite group of Bendigo athletes to win Olympic medals swimmer Faith Leech, basketball legend Kristi Harrower and sailor Glenn Ashby.
O’Shea was one of the favourites for omnium gold in London and led after four of the six rounds before finishing fifth.
Other highs for the year included victory in the Ghent six-day race and multiple victories at the national track championships.
O’Shea won a gold medal in the team pursuit at last month’s track world championships in Minsk, Belarus.
The now Adelaide resident, where he trains under former Bendigo coach Tim Decker at SASI, couldn’t defend his crown in the six-event omnium, but won the bronze medal.
O’Shea is about to embark on the European road season with his new team An Post-Sean Kelly Team.
Commitments in Europe mean he will not pursue Bendigo International Madison glory next weekend.