The proof is in the pudding, the saying goes. But in this case it's on the velodrome track.
The Canadian women's team pursuit cycling trio, which includes Gillian Carleton of Victoria, again proved it will be a medal contender at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
The team of Carleton, Edmonton's Tara Whitten and Coquitlam's Jasmin Glaesser won the bronze medal Thursday at the world track cycling championships in Melbourne, Australia.
The Canadians shaded New Zealand in the bronzemedal race while Great Britain defeated the host Aussies for the gold.
Earlier in the year, Canada won silver behind Great Britain in the official test event for the 2012 Summer Games held on London's Olympic velodrome.
"The goal of our team pursuit squad is to win a medal in London, and with the depth of talent and experience on the team, I believe that's a very realistic goal," said Carleton, now solidly on beam to become one of the more than 45 Island-based athletes expected to compete in the London Games.
"There's some solid training that needs to be done between now and August to make that goal a reality, but I am confident that we will rise to the challenge."
The remarkable thing is that Carleton, a part-time UVic student who also works part-time at Oak Bay Bicycles, only took up velodrome racing last summer.
"To be honest, the fact that I might be going to the Olympics hasn't really sunk in yet, as at this time last year I still hadn't even raced at an elite level on the track," said Carleton.
"I had competed on the road a few years ago, winning the Canada Summer Games in 2009, but after that I was a bit burned out on racing and spent a few years just working and focusing on my degree. Last year though I had the chance to help organize the Harbour Sprints [part of the Victoria International Cycling Festival], and I also did a bunch of alleycat races which totally reignited my passion for cycling.
"The local fixed-gear scene was just so dramatically different from anything I was used to and I loved how passionate the community was about having the most fun possible on two wheels. When the West Shore Velodrome re-opened last spring, a bunch of friends and I started racing. And it turned out I was pretty decent at it."
The St. Margaret's graduate has also accomplished a tenaciously determined comeback since crashing in a World Cup points race in Kazakhstan last fall. Carleton got back on her bike after the crash to finish fourth despite competing with a fractured pelvis and torn abductor muscle.
The Canadian men's team pursuit squad, however, placed 11th and will not qualify for the London Olympics.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
