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Golden girls: Rebecca Romero, Wendy Houvenaghel and Jo Rowsell on the podium

Multi-talented Rebecca Romero is eyeing Olympic gold after clinching two cycling world titles in Manchester last week.

The Carshalton-born 28-year-old beat defending champion Sarah Hammer in the individual pursuit before joining forces with Cheam 19-year-old Jo Rowsell and Wendy Houvenaghel to take team gold.

Romero swapped rowing for the velodrome two years ago after winning a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and gold at the 2005 world championships.

The British Olympic Association confirmed the ex-Kingston Rowing Club member would become the first British female summer Olympian to win medals in two different sports if she makes it to the podium in Beijing.

"Following that up is the tough part but it is only upwards now," Romero told BBC Sport.

"I wanted that so badly. I didn't think I was going to do it.

"I was building up and up and up - that is the most tested I have ever been in my mental capacity."

Meanwhile, Rowsell was not surprised at her success, despite only taking up the sport three years ago.

She began her cycling career with Sutton Cycle Club in 2005 having been spotted by the south-east talent team in a trial at Nonsuch School.

Her efforts helped team GB to nine gold medals with the Beijing Olympics just five months away.

And Rowsell, who has been part of the national team since 2006, is hoping the success is a sign of things to come.

"It is amazing to think of what I have achieved when you look back it," he said.

"I had never even ridden a bike competitively until three years ago, and to become a world champion in such a short space of time is great.

"The women's team pursuit is a new event and is not in the Olympics this year, but hopefully it will be by 2012."

10:06am Wednesday 2nd April 2008

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