Jason Queally attempted to defy his ageing body by going for glory at the 2012 London Olympics, at the age of 42.

Queally, whose greatest achievement came in the shape of gold at the Sydney Olympics, admitted the lure of the 2012 Olympics was too great to ignore and came out of retirement to pursue a spot in the team sprint - something he was ultimately unable to secure.

As a youngster, Queally flourished in the water, swimming to a good level and representing Lancaster and Britsh Universities in water polo. Aged 25, Queally took up cycling and made an immediate impression on the track.

Establishing himself as a world-class kilometre and team sprint rider, Queally kick-started a golden era for British Cycling by winning the kilometre at the 2000 Olympics. At the 2006 World Championships in Bordeaux, he helped the British team sprint squad to a silver medal.

Queally was set to challenge in his individual event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before it was scrapped from the programme. Consequently, he put his name in the hat for a place in the team sprint squad but, with so many up-and-coming riders, he found himself pushed down the pecking order.

As a result, Queally retired and joined the Paralympic squad as a tandem pilot for Anthony Kappes. However, after his call-up to the Great Britain squad for the team pursuit at the 2011 World Championships in Copenhagen, he showed he still had plenty to offer at the highest level when he was part of a victorious GB pursuit quartet at the European Championships, in November 2010.

Now faced with a dilemma, Queally made the decision to pursue his Olympic dream, leaving Kappes looking for a new pilot. Queally said: "Once I'd made that call to go for the team pursuit that was done and dusted, whatever happens. If I don't make the team pursuit squad in 2012 I won't be going to London in any capacity, that's the choice I had to make."

Career high
Winning gold in the 1km time trial at the Sydney Olympics.

Career low
Despite being Olympic champion, Queally was overlooked for the 1km time trial at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Quotes
"I would call it a gold mine more than a dream factory, and you're never too old to go digging for gold." Jason Queally sets his sights on glory at the London Olympics

"I had had a go at triathlon, had a bike, came to the Velodrome, and within six months I was at national standard - which was not that good at the time, compared with today's standards." Jason Queally

Trivia
In 1996, Queally's career could have been over when an 18-inch piece of the wooden track at Meadowbank cycling track got lodged in his chest.