Low-key homecoming for cycling golden boy

JOHN HAWKINS/ The Southland Times

PROUD MOMENT: Proud mum Wendy Scully welcomes home her gold medal-winning son Tom at Invercargill Airport.

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Tom Scully walked off the plane at Invercargill Airport yesterday morning sporting two sparkling gold medals.

Wearing his New Zealand tracksuit, the 19-year-old cyclist walked into the terminal to a reception far different to the scenes there just a matter of weeks ago when the Southland rugby team made that same walk with the Ranfurly Shield in its hand luggage.

Only Scully's mum Wendy, dad Matthew, a handful of family and friends and a Southland Times sports reporter and photographer were on hand to greet him.

It pales in comparison to the 3000 the Stags hauled in last month.

But don't think what the southern cyclist achieved wasn't a big deal.

Scully returned to Invercargill after completing one of Southland's finest sporting efforts.

He was thrilled his parents had made the trip down from Cromwell to greet him and share in the celebrations.

"It's awesome to have my family and friends here to see me," Scully said yesterday soon after he arrived back in Invercargill.

On Friday night he caused a massive upset in the scratch race at the World Cup meet in Melbourne to beat a field that included world champion Chris Newton.

Then on Saturday night he teamed up with Marc Ryan to win the madison, capping of a remarkable 48 hours.

It has also been a remarkable 12 months during which the young Southlander has come from almost turning his back on cycling to being one of New Zealand's top cycling talents. Last year Scully gave himself an ultimatum – to either continue to give cycling his full devotion or accept an apprenticeship with Sheet Metalcraft Ltd in Invercargill.

After discussions with family and friends and a key talk to Sheet Metalcraft director Paul Corkery he decided to forge on with cycling.

"I had to make a decision about what I wanted to do," he said.

"It was actually Paul who said I should give cycling a good go and that's what I've done.'

World championships and Olympic Games are now in the southerner's sights.

Competing in such prestigious events is easily on the cards if he continues to produce the goods as he did in Melbourne.

logan.savory@stl.co.nz

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