After his Beijing Paralympics swimming campaign was cruelled by a severe shoulder injury, the Bomaderry athlete has switched to cycling with fantastic success.

Pel has just been selected in the New South Wales team to compete at the Senior National Track Championships in Adelaide next month, which boasts four Paralympic cyclists

He admits the London Paralympics are on the radar.

“I was a bit shocked I made the team, actually!” the 17-year-old said.

“I’ve been working at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney with a few guys connected to the Paralympic team, but I didn’t expect this.

“The nationals are going to be a good experience, but I think at this stage it’s pretty much just a big learning curve for me.”

Pel had actually been identified as a potential star cyclist while still swimming.

A member of the Nowra Velo Club, he is unsure what events he will contest at this stage, but is leaning towards the kilo (kilometre event) and the pursuit.

“I haven’t really been told what I will be riding yet,” he said.

“I had always intended to get into cycling after my swimming, but it has probably come a bit sooner than anticipated due to my injury, but I’m loving it.”

Although his first cycling representative honour has been as a track rider, he is also a keen road cyclist.

“I train every day on the road, and race with the Nowra Velo Club – I don’t think I’m a time trialler, I’m more of a sprinter, road races and criteriums, things like that.”

Mind you Pel still has some national swimming records to his credit.

And while his Beijing dream disappeared, he still harbours that passion to represent his country and admits although the London Paralympics are probably a big ask at this stage they are a “target”.

“I just want to go as far as I can in sport,” he said.

His father Mark has been along for the ride with the youngster every step of the way and he says Cameron has now found his true calling.

“It’s all a bit of something new for him after being a swimmer and then changing sports,” he said.