FORMER Bendigo cyclist and 2000 Olympic gold medallist Scott McGrory has been honoured with induction into the Cycling Australia Hall of Fame.
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McGrory was one of four new inductees announced at the 2019 Cyclist of the Year Awards in Brisbane on Monday night.
The class of 2019 also includes McGrory's 2000 Olympic madison gold medal-winning team-mate Brett Aitken, Olympian and world champion Kate Bates and Australia's first world champion Bob Spears.
A dual Olympic medallist, McGrory won a memorable bronze in the team pursuit as an 18-year-old at the 1988 Games in Seoul.
He would endure a 12-year wait before representing his country again at Olympic level, teaming with South Australian Aitken to claim a stunning gold medal in the first ever madison event at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
McGrory - a feature on the Bendigo cycling scene for the past two decades - used part of his acceptance speech to reflect on his Olympic triumph.
"The elation is quite overwhelming because it doesn't just come from that moment of victory, for us it came from years of hard work, self-belief and also at times the lack thereof," he said.
"And for your pet event to be included in the Olympic program for the first time, to be in your best condition the year of those Games, and for those Games to be in your own country, and then actually win was something that I had not even dreamt about."
McGrory, who has returned to his former home on the Gold Coast, turned professional in 1994 and claimed the Australian Road Championship the same year.
He would became one of the best six-day riders in the world, winning more than a dozen races on the European circuit.
McGrory also won a silver medal in the madison at the 1996 World Championships.
His name would become synonymous with the Bendigo International Madison, an event he won on two occasions in 2001 and 2002 alongside Aitken (a five-time winner).
He also finished second in 1992 and third in 1996 and 2005.
McGrory, who retired from cycling in 2005 and has since forged a career in the media as a commentator and presenter, has continued his long association with the Bendigo madison as its CEO for the past three events.
The now 49-year-old described his hall of fame induction as 'an absolute honour'.
"I'm privileged to be able to continue working in the sport I love long after retiring from racing, and it feels great to be selected from so many to be a part of the select few to receive this honour," he said.
"When you win a race you typically know that you have trained hard and were more often than not expecting to, or at least hoping to get a good result.
"But to be recognised by your peers for your contribution to your sport is a very different and in some ways a more meaningful achievement."
Bendigo and District Cycling Club vice-president Syd Anstee congratulated McGrory on his induction and described him as a wonderful ambassador for Bendigo cycling.
"He has been a fantastic contributor to our club over a long period of time, even to the point where ... not that he's exempt from it ... we roster him for corner duties and he will come and do it," he said.
"He has always been very good in giving his time to the media and always talks about Bendigo quite a bit, and has always helped with the development of the young riders.
"He always has an encouraging word for our riders and always puts a positive spin of things, which makes him great to have around the club."
Established in 2015, the hall of fame recognises the outstanding achievements of the true greats of Australian cycling.
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