Tim is currently in Rio as a coach with the Australian track cycling team.

Tim’s mum Val, who still lives in Horsham, said her son was coaching the Australian men’s pursuit team and would also coach the men’s omnium team.

“We’re very proud of Tim,” Val said.

“He always had a dream to make it to the Olympics.” 

Tim won the prestigious Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic in 2007, a race he competed in 14 times.

“He wasn’t quite good enough as a cyclist, but he’s been able to achieve his dream as a coach,” Val said.

Tim, 43, has been the team pursuit coach for the past four years after he took over from Ian McKenzie, who led the Aussies to a silver medal in London in 2012.

Val said her son was enjoying the atmosphere of Rio.

“We’ve been corresponding via email,” she said.

“He’s enjoying it. He really wants to beat the Brits in the pursuit. The team has been working really hard since it arrived in Rio.”

Val said Tim had already helped the pursuit team achieve Commonwealth Games and world championship gold, but it was Olympic glory he and the Australians were really after.

“He’s always loved coaching,” she said.

“A gold medal at the Olympics would be the ultimate reward for years of hard work.”

Tim and his wife Michelle have two sons - Austen, 3, and Cohen, 8.

The family lives in Adelaide where Tim was previously the cycling coach at the South Australian Institute of Sport.