ABOUT
Twelve years is a long time between Olympic Games, but Scott McGrory ensured that it was worth the wait.
The Walwa native joined the Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder, and won a memorable bronze as a teenager at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games in the team pursuit. 12 years after his first Olympic Games appearance, Scott was given the opportunity to compete again and claimed a stunning gold medal victory in the first ever Madison event at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with fellow inductee Brett Aitken.
“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.
“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.” Said Scott.
McGrory turned professional in 1994 and claimed the Australian Road Championship the same year. He also later became one of the best Six-Day riders in the world, winning more than a dozen races on the European Six-Day circuit. McGrory also won a silver medal in the Madison at the World Championships.
Since retiring Scott has paved a career in the media and has become one of the top cycling commentators.
“It's an absolute honour to be inducted into the Cycling Australia Hall of Fame. 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.
“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 you contribution to your sport is a very different and in some ways a more meaningful achievement.”
