Aussies favourite to win Games gold: Dunn

By NICK GUTHRIE

DUBBO'S own Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Megan Dunn, is backing the Australian cycling team to dominate at the event in Glasgow, starting this week.

It was four years ago when the 'Dubbo Dynamo' burst into national prominence as the then 19-year-old Dunn won two golds at Delhi in 2010.

Her triumph in the points race and the scratch race made her a champion, and while she would not be on the track to defend her titles she was still expecting plenty of success from the Aussie team once the Games got under way from Thursday morning (AEST).

"I think they're really going to dominate, it's an awesome team," she said of the cycling squad.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing Amy Cure ride, I think she can definitely get gold and the whole team will go really well."

Dunn, again living and working in Dubbo, admits it still feels like only yesterday when she was flying around the track at Delhi.

Her dual gold effort was a huge achievement for a teenager who was going up against the best in the world.

"I can't believe it's been four years, it's flown by," she said.

"This time the Games are a bit earlier in the year so this time four years ago I was in Switzerland and it was all very exciting."

After a string of serious injuries Dunn took a break from cycling and while she said the team atmosphere and friendships were some things she missed, she couldn't fully commit to the rigorous training regimes needed to be an elite athlete.

"I definitely like the idea of being there but the dedication that goes into it, it's not months it's years of sacrifice and my body has had enough," she said.

"I can race again at an Australian level and that's achievable but I'm not going to do it unless I can give 110 per cent.

"I have no idea when but I've still got age on my side and I guess I've still got things to achieve but your body catches up on you."

The 22-year-old was confident about her chances of competing at the national level again, showing the fierce competitive streak on show at Delhi was still alive and well inside her.

Dunn, who was also a junior national champion and junior cyclist of the year, said while she did just feel like anyone else working at Dubbo she did sometimes take the time to savour the memories of standing on the podium with the gold medal.

"It does feel different, I'm an adult now and I've got responsibilities and life has really taken off," she said.

"Someone at work mentioned they were going to Beijing and I think to myself I've been there and you can take some things like that for granted.

Among Dunn's most treasured memories were standing in Russia's Red Square, surrounded by thousands of people.

The track cycling will be contested during the first four days of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.