IT S double gold for disabled cyclist Jody Cundy, after he won team sprint gold at the Beijing Paralympics this morning (Wednesday). Cundy, from Walpole St Andrew, with team-mates Darren Kenny and Mark Bristow, beat the hosts China in the team sprint (LC2

IT'S double gold for disabled cyclist Jody Cundy, after he won team sprint gold at the Beijing Paralympics this morning (Wednesday).

Cundy, from Walpole St Andrew, with team-mates Darren Kenny and Mark Bristow, beat the hosts China in the team sprint (LC2) final with a world-record time of 49.323 seconds.

His second gold came 24 hours after he won the 1km time trial, beating the opposition by six seconds. He also took three seconds off his world record.

This morning, Cundy's uncle David said: "He is a great young man and a true ambassador for this country.

"He has even had a text message from Chris Boardman (who won cycling gold at the Olympic Games in 1992), saying he would be good enough to lead the team pursuit for able-bodied athletes."

Cundy, 29, previously won three Paralympic gold medals in swimming; in the 100m butterfly in Atlanta 1996 and in Sydney 2000.

He switched to cycling two years ago and takes part in the LC2 category, for below-the-knee amputees.

Family friend John Smith, from Wisbech, was also full of praise for Cundy after this week's success.

He said: "Jody is a true ambassador for sport and a shining example of steely determination.

"When he opened the Walpole Community Centre some years ago, wearing his Olympics Team Blazer and his three Gold Medals, he was a truly inspirational hero to all the children who flocked around him. His quiet, unassuming manner belied the rugged determination that must lie within.

"He was wonderful with the children and so impressed everyone who met him.