Dunedin's elite cyclist, Alison Shanks, is now concentrating on the teams pursuit for the London Olympic Games in 2012.
The Otago Daily Times learnt of her plans during a mayoral reception at the Dunedin Town Hall for Shanks and sevens star Ben Smith, who both won gold medals at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games last month.
"There isn't any other track event I could cross over to," Shanks said.
"It is exciting because we hold the world record."
The New Zealand team of Shanks, Rushlee Buchanan and Lauren Ellis broke the world record in the teams pursuit when finishing third at the world championships at Copenhagen in March.
The time was 3min 21.552sec.
It was the first mayoral reception celebrating Dunedin's sporting elite since Dave Cull was elected mayor last month and there were 140 friends, family and supporters present.
Included in the audience were pupils from Queens and Kings High Schools, where Shanks and Smith were educated.
"We are proud and delighted of their of achievements in bringing back gold medals to the city," Cull said.
"It was a magnificent achievement."
Both Shanks and Smith acknowledged the help they have received from Dunedin people.
Both have been backed by the Skeggs Foundation and the New Zealand Academy of Sport.
"I have travelled the world but I have everything I need to function as an elite athlete in Dunedin," Shanks said. She is in full training for a busy season that will lead to the world championships in the Netherlands in March.
She will compete in both the 3000m individual pursuit and the teams pursuit.
Her international campaign starts in two weeks at the World Cup event at Cali, Colombia, when she will compete in the individual and teams pursuits.
She will do only the teams pursuit at the World Cup at Beijing in January.
Shanks will also defend her New Zealand title at Invercargill in February.
Shanks and Smith last night thanked the Otago community for their support.
"It was an opportunity to share my gold medal with the people of Dunedin who have supported me," Shanks said.
"It was good to bring my gold medal home."
Shanks made special mention of letters she received from pupils of room 8 at Fairfield Primary School, particularly a letter from Emma.
Smith, who was a key member of the winning New Zealand sevens team at New Delhi, is having a break after a long rugby season for the Highlanders and Otago.
He is on leave until the Highlanders reassemble in Dunedin on December 13.
Smith was acknowledged by coach Gordon Tietjens as one of the the outstanding players in the New Zealand sevens team.
"Ben played every minute of the final," Otago rugby team manager Des Smith said.
"He had an outstanding tournament."
