It was so hard to believe, the Colac Cycling Club member struggled to keep his balance after his opening event, which was the one-kilometre under 19 time trial.

“I won it by about half a second,” he said.

“My time was 1:03.973, which was the new Australian championship record.

“I looked up and saw it on the scoreboard when I finished.

“I nearly fell off.”

It marked his first Australian under 19 title, with his time eclipsing the previous record of 1:04.051.

Shaw earned the chance to represent Victoria at the national titles at the Adelaide Superdrome following a strong performance at the state titles in December.

The 16-year-old yesterday returned home from the national championships with an exceptional three gold medals, with his other two shiny mementoes coming from team events.

On Friday he contested the Bill Young men’s under 19 teams pursuit (4000m) along with Jack Cummings, Evan Hull and Alexander Morgan.

The Victorian combination claimed gold in a time of 4:08.745 — more than six seconds quicker than the second-placed South Australian team.

On Sunday he was part of the victorious under 19 team sprint with Emerson Harwood and Jacob Schmid, with the trio clocking in at 47.034.

They held off South Australia by .644 of a second.

Shaw, who lives in Elliminyt, was surprised by his success.

“I just thought I would maybe get a couple of thirds or fourths,” he said before attributing his performance to a busy training schedule.

“I was going to Melbourne three to four times a week to train with the VIS.

“Then I was riding in Colac, just doing the club races.”

He hopes that his medal haul will boost his chances of being selected in the Australian squad to attend the Track World Championships in New Zealand in August.

Shaw thanked the Colac Cycling Club for its support, particularly committee member Clare Jehu and cyclist David Lunn.

Club president Tony Prytz said Shaw started riding with the club about six years ago.

“It wasn’t really until the last year when he really started to show a bit,” he said.

“This year he has been quite amazing because he has really only had about six to eight weeks of elite coaching.

“He’s come a long way in a short time.”

Prytz said the teenager was exciting to watch.

“He’s a big kid with an enormous motor and he can generate so much power,” he said.

“We’re very proud of him.

“We thought he might win one title but to have won three, that is just an amazing effort.”

kbutler@standard.fairf ax.com.au