This is my cousin :)

Victorian teenagers Michael Ford, Shane Perkins and Daniel Thorsen today added to Australia's medal tally at the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Los Angeles.

Australian junior pursuit champion, Ford, 18, rode a time of 3min21.802sec to claim gold in the 3km individual pursuit defeating his German rival Sascha Damrow by almost nine seconds (3min30.453sec). Ford went into the event as the current world record for the event. He set the a time of 3min17.773 at the Australian Championships in April, breaking the record of fellow Australian Brad McGee that had stood for ten years.  

Ford claimed the silver medal in the pursuit at last years Junior World Championships but says the gold medal is a lot better.

I had a little bit of pressure on me (as world record holder) but I was trying not think about that ride and instead stay focussed on the job I had to do, said Ford who had posted the fastest qualifying time for the event. Fellow Australian Miles Olman (QLD) had qualified second fastest but in a tough first round was defeated by Damrow and had to settle for fifth place.

“Damrow had a real battle with Miles in the first round so I hoped that had taken some our of him and he wouldn't go much faster than the 3min24 he did against Miles, said Ford. “Whereas I had a much easier first round and had a lot left in the tank for the final.

Ford went out hard early in the race for gold with Damrow answering the challenge in the early laps.

“I went out on a 3min20 schedule but he was quick as well and in the first two laps had an edge on me, said Ford. “But then he started to crack and I just kept the same tempo going.

Ford's parents are in LA and witnessed their son's triumph. Ford says the experience of winning gold is ‚¬Ëœawesome and a really good feeling.

But far from time to celebrate Ford and Olman will now focus on their other events including the teams pursuit and for Olman defence of his 2003 points race crown.