Aussie cyclists shake off health issues for the Commonwealth Games

CYCLISTS Shane Perkins and Peter Lewis say they will push past separate health concerns in order to compete at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

07/10/2010 COMMGAMES\SPORT: Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games -Day 4- Track Cycling from the Indira Ghandi Sports Complex, Day Session. Shane Perkins wins the Men's Sprint.

THREE days before he strolled through Glasgow Airport, cyclist Shane Perkins was getting an epidural injection into his spine.

A debilitating back injury meant the 27-year-old might not be able to defend the men’s sprint gold he picked up at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.

But the epidural, as well as six earlier injections, allowed Perkins to board the plane quietly hopeful about his chances of staying competitive at this year’s Games, despite his lower back problems.

“It was touch and go,” Perkins said.

“(But) I’ve got some time to get my back sorted and hopefully get on the starting line confident.”

That said, Perkins admits it may have been wiser to skip Glasgow altogether to heal properly ahead of the Rio Olympics.

But the two-time world track champion said he couldn’t pass up the chance to represent Australia again.

“I don’t just want to be here to pick up a tracksuit,” he said.

If his back holds up, the London Olympics bronze medallist will become just the eighth Australian male cyclist to have contested three Commonwealth Games.

Peter Lewis will also compete in Glasgow despite not being well.

Fellow cyclist Peter Lewis is also coming back from ill health to compete in the Games’ track cycling events.

He was devastated by a glandular fever diagnosis in November 2013 and unable to train or race for two and a half months.

But the 24-year-old recovered in time for the Commonwealth Games selection trials in May.

“When I got sick I had almost written this off and was going to not have a crack,” he said.

“And then I got healthy quicker than I thought.”

Now settled into the Athletes’ Village, Lewis said he’s just trying to stay fresh ahead of the official competition.

He is hopeful he can pick up a medal if he is named as a rider in the men’s team sprint.

“I think I’d be up there with a shot,” he said.