Mark Stewart, a 31-year-old cyclist from Dundee, has made an extraordinary comeback, clinching the gold medal at the World Track Cycling Championships in Shanghai earlier this month. After previously securing two silver medals and a bronze, Stewart's victory in the demanding 160-lap points race marks a significant milestone in his career.

Stewart's journey has been anything but conventional. He was dropped from British Cycling's high performance programme and paused his professional cycling career due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Stranded in New Zealand during lockdown, he adapted to life away from cycling by taking on various jobs, including dog-walking, babysitting, teaching, and working as a lifeguard.

Despite the challenges, Stewart rejoined British Cycling in preparation for the 2024 Olympics. He shared his reflections on achieving his long-awaited world-title success, expressing uncertainty about how to process this achievement. Stewart stated, "Because it had taken me so long to win a world championship you almost start to make your peace that it wasn't going to happen and started to enjoy the other aspects of sport."

He emphasized that his victory does not alter his self-worth, saying, "I don't put any more value on it because I have spent my career telling myself that it is not where I put my value, so I can't see that really changing."

For Stewart, this triumph is a personal achievement, yet he maintains that it should not redefine how he or others perceive him.