Most people would make a quiet return to their chosen sport just months after a major crash. But cyclist Shane Dirks seems to have come back even stronger.
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The Cordeaux Heights resident was left with a broken collarbone, two sore shoulders, a damaged ankle and concussion after he crashed during a race in November.
Dirks was left to take the road to recovery, but he was back in competition after being cleared by his physiotherapist just three months later.
He secured two gold medals and a bronze at the NSW Masters Track Championships in February.
The 41-year-old's hot form continued at last week's Masters Track Nationals in Brisbane, picking up two golds and a silver medal. Dirks recorded wins in the team sprint and individual time trial before finishing second in the individual sprint in the 40-44 years men's category.
Dirks said he was delighted with his performances.
"I was just happy to be there," Dirks said. "I had a personal best in qualifying in the [individual] sprint, but the guy that beat me [in the final] went even faster. I also had a PB in the time trial. I'm just grateful to God that I'm back riding as I am."
Dirks said he had enjoyed an "on again, off again" relationship with cycling since he was a junior.
"I got back on [the bike] fairly consistently about three years ago, and I've been back on the track for one-and-a-half years," he said.
"I'm going faster at 40 than I was at 20."
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