KUALA LUMPUR: Track cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom has finally turned his long-held dream into reality.

The 29-year-old made historymade history by clinching gold in the keirin event at the UCI Nations Cup in Turkiye on Saturday.

Previously, Shah Firdaus had often settled for silver and bronze medals in major competitions, but this time, he reached the top of the podium.

In the final at the Konya Velodrome, he produced a powerful sprint, overtaking his rivals just metres from the finish line.

France's Sebastien Vigier, an Olympic team sprint bronze medallist, settled for second place, while Japan's Asian champion Shinji Nakano took bronze.

Speaking after his historic triumph, Shah Firdaus admitted he was stunned by his achievement but overjoyed with the result.

To be honest, I don't know how I did it. It was a long day and a tough race from the first round. I think the team and coaches did a fantastic job in planning everything.

"I'm absolutely delighted today. I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I had finished second in the Nations Cup before, but today was my day—I won gold," he told the UCI.

Shah Firdaus' previous best finish in the Nations Cup was silver in the keirin event in Cairo, Egypt, last year, where he also took third overall.

His victory is sweet redemption after the heartbreak of the Paris Olympics, where he crashed out of medal contention in a dramatic finish.

Meanwhile, national technical director John Beasley hailed his determination, which finally paid off.

"Shah Firdaus has broken through the barrier and won his first Nations Cup gold medal in the keirin.

"He has worked incredibly hard for years, winning bronze and silver, and now he has completed his collection.

"To the high-performance team, thank you for your hard work. I hope you're also celebrating this victory because you are a huge part of tonight's success," he said.