Scotland’s Mark Stewart acknowledges he had started to accept he would never secure a gold medal at the World Track Cycling Championships before finally claiming the title in China earlier this month. The 31-year-old triumphed in the demanding 160-lap points race in Shanghai to reach the peak of his career, having previously won two silver medals and a bronze.
From Odd Jobs to World Champion
The Dundee-born athlete was dropped from British Cycling’s high performance programme and stopped racing professionally following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Stranded in New Zealand during lockdown, he remained in the country and earned a living outside of sport by working as a dog walker, babysitter, teacher, and lifeguard before rejoining British Cycling prior to the 2024 Olympics.
Stewart explains that achieving this success later in his career has left him uncertain about how to process the victory. “Because it had taken me so long to win a world championship you almost start to make your peace that it wasn’t going to happen and started to enjoy the other aspects of sport,” Stewart told BBC Scotland. He adds that he does not place excessive value on the accolade, viewing it as a cool personal achievement that should not alter how people judge him or how he evaluates himself.
Looking Ahead to Los Angeles 2028
Stewart shares that he had to navigate exceptionally difficult personal circumstances leading up to the race, which he managed to channel into his performance on the track. Following his participation in the Paris Olympics, the 2018 Commonwealth gold medallist believes his recent experience and elevated form can help him compete at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
The world championships marked the beginning of the Olympic selection process, which he notes is an ideal starting point. He has uncovered a new level of performance that he believes will open additional doors, indicating that a re-evaluation of his career path is likely necessary.
