Never-say-die Roulston rewarded with silver

Gold in London next aim

PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media

SILVER LINING: New Zealand's Hayden Roulston, left, proudly wears his silver medal as he waves to the crowd while standing alongside his conqueror Bradley Wiggins during the medal ceremony for the 4000m individual pursuit.

PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media

FAST FINISHER: New Zealand cyclist Hayden Roulston has guarenteed himself at least a silver medal in the men's individual pursuit.

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Hayden Roulston has proved his many doubters wrong with an Olympic silver medal in the men's individual pursuit at the Laoshan velodrome in Beijing last night.

The Ashburton cyclist was second to reigning world champion Bradley Wiggins of Britain.

For Roulston, 27, it marked the end of a bumpy journey which included two brushes with law and a health scare that had forced him into early retirement.

But that was in the past last night as the Kiwi cyclist became just the third New Zealander to win an Olympic medal on the track.

Roulston was close to tears as he stood on the podium with his silver medal around his neck.

"It's pretty emotional," he said. "I gave it my best. There's definitely no regrets. To walk away with a silver, I'm pretty happy."

But he said he is keen on another attempt at gold in the London Games in 2012.

"I was picturing the New Zealand flag in the middle to be honest. And I was picturing that gold medal round my neck. It's coming I tell ya."

"I'll be going through to London for sure," he said, while also forecasting a return to a European pro team.

About three seconds had been the difference between the two cyclists during the qualifying and first round rides and it was again the case in last night's final as Wiggins confirmed his superstar status by winning gold in 4mins 16.977. Roulston stopped the clock in 4:19.611.

Roulston's cycling career had been in danger just two years ago when he found himself in trouble with the law and then doctors advised him to retire because of a heart ailment.

"I think I've basically proved my point there," he said. "I'm not saying (the doctors) were wrong but I'm not saying they were right."

The track cyclist sought alternative treatment, the Japanese healing art Reiki, and returned to his chosen career with his eyes firmly focused on an Olympic medal - something he finally put his hands around last night with his family and partner, Ange, watching in the stands.

"To do what I've done is something I can be proud of," Roulston said.  "It hasn't been easy, there's been many ups and downs."

He joins Sarah Ulmer (gold in 2004) and Gary Anderson (bronze in 1992) as New Zealand's only Olympic track medallists.

That tally could be added to tonight with Dunedin's Alison Shanks making a surprise appearance in the ride-off for bronze in the women's 3000m individual pursuit.

Shanks, a former Otago netballer, was a long shot for a top four placing, having entered her first Olympic campaign ranked in seventh place, but has continued a meteoric rise in the sport of cycling and will now face the Ukraine's Lesya Kalitovska for the bronze.

"I came in here with expectations of riding a personal best," she said.  "It feels so great to have exceeded expectations and to be riding for a medal."

But last night belonged to Roulston who had a large Kiwi cheer squad in the stands to cheer him on.

In both the qualifying and first rounds, he was second fastest to cover the 4000m distance.

Wiggins has dominated on the boards this year and last night became the first cyclist to win back-to-back Olympic individual pursuit golds, having also triumphed in Athens.

As Roulston was warming-up for his final, his good mate Greg Henderson was warming down from a disappointing ride in the men's points race.

The Dunedin cyclist finished 10th last night.

"It's obviously disappointing," he said. "I just have to go back home and reflect on what went wrong really. I was so confident. I had the form of my life."

Henderson could do little but watch Spain's track cycling star, Joan Llaneras, win his second Olympic points race gold medal in what is his last appearance at a Games.

"I just have to get my chin up and come out fighting again in two days."

Henderson teams up with Roulston in Tuesday's madison while Roulston will have this morning off, when the team pursuit attempts to qualify for the first round, but may be in action later in the day.

with NZPA