Anderson back on track where career took off

Gary Anderson MBE, Wanganui's Olympic bronze and Commonwealth gold medallist, will do a lap of honour at the Cook Gardens Velodrome next Saturday night. Photo/File

It may not be a church, but to Gary Anderson, the Cooks Gardens Velodrome may as well be holy ground.

The Olympic bronze medallist and eight-time Commonwealth medallist has been appointed event ambassador to the International Night of the Stars event at the velodrome next Saturday, February 8.

Anderson will be presented to the public and ride a lap of honour.

It will be one of those "full circle" moments for the 46-year-old who was prepared for the sport from a young age by coach Ron Cheatley on the old and then new velodrome track on his way to international success.

Anderson won three golds at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland and was the first Kiwi to win an Olympic cycling medal at Barcelona in 1992.

His illustrious career also included numerous national and Oceania titles and records, before his career was interrupted with a near-fatal accident in the US when training for the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Anderson still competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before retiring to focus on coaching and management.

The first International Night of the Stars show in Wanganui in six years will include appearances from 2013 track cycling omnium world champion Aaron Gate, alongside a host of other Olympic and world championship medallists.

The programme begins about 6.30pm and finishes just after 9pm.