Winning gold and becoming a national champion is something special regardless of the circumstances but Danny Barber's haul at last week's National Track Cycling Championships stands out after what has been a challenging 2020.
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This year has been unlike any other and the cycling community has been hugely affected.
A swathe of races and carnivals were cancelled due to COVID-19 while the lockdown earlier in the year meant it difficult to maintain training standards.
Throw in the fact Barber was also studying for HSC exams and the last few months have been particularly tricky.
But the talented teenager didn't let any of that get in his way at Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome as Christmas came early and he won three golds and a bronze in the in the men's under 19s division.
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The golds came in the sprint, time trial, and kieren events while he won silver in the team pursuit and also rode personal best times at Brisbane as he continued his march towards his goal of riding for his country at the Olympics.
"Over the year it's been pretty tough. Nationals were meant to be in March and when they were cancelled I was pretty gutted," Barber said.
"Then they were going to be in September but a few weeks before that we were told it wasn't happening so it was pretty good to even get the event on.
"A lot of work went into it because normally you do a lot of training and plan when you're peaking and tapering and that was all pretty messed up.
"Anyone who got there did really well."
Barber was the star during what was another stellar meet for Dubbo Cycle Club.
Haylee Fuller showed her endurance pedigree and won a gold, silver, and bronze in the under 19s women, Kurt Eather looked at home in the elite men's division and won a medal of each colour, while Dylan Eather won bronze in the under 19s on day one before unfortunately suffering a broken hand in a warm-up fall on day two and will now be out of action for some time.
Zara Fuller also scored a fourth-placed finish in the women's under 19s team pursuit while Bathurst-based Tyler Putzika, someone who rides and trains regularly at the Dubbo track, won a silver and a bronze in the under 19s women's.
"Its great to see because you see them at training and they all work so hard and are so dedicated," Barber said of his clubmates.
"Unfortunately Dylan Eather crashed in warm-up and it was gutting to see that because he was probably my main competition.
"He was not far behind me in training."
While his clubmate was missing on the track it didn't affect Barber at all.
While he stated all golds mean the same, and understandably so, the sprint victory was partculalry satisfying.
Barber showed his class in the qualifying events and then put it together perfectly in the main race.
"I think I rode the race better than I ever have before," he said.
"I'd worked on tactics and technique and got all aspects right."
Much of the credit for the success went to Dubbo coaches Gus Dawson and Vaughn Eather.
Eather was also the NSW coach in Brisbane and Barber said he and his clubmates wouldn't be anywhere near the level they are without those mentors and the support of the wider Dubbo cycling community.
"I'm thankful we've got great coaches who did the best they could with training (during lockdown). They helped maintain performances," Barber said.
"They put in so much time and they do a great job."
The Dubbo coaches have developed numerous champion riders, with Commonwealth Games gold medallist Megan Dunn and World Championship medalist Andrew Taylor two of the biggest stars to come out of the city.
"Definitely the long term goal is to to that level," Barber said.
"You still see Megan at the tracks some nights and I get to chat to her and ask her things and she tells me what it's like and gives advice so it's really good to have people like that around. It helps immensely.
"Being in the Australian team and maybe riding at Olympics in the next four years is definitely my goal."
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
