Rodway has had hundreds of messages left on his Facebook wall, including one from fellow Maitland world champion Graeme Mudd, following his success at the UCI BMX World Championships in Belgium on Wednesday.

Rodway endured a potential competition-ending fall prior to competition but recovered and almost went undefeated for the rest of the day in Zolder on his way to a gold medal in the 15-years division.

Rodway’s triumph was made all the more remarkable after revealing a broken foot had hampered his preparation for the international event.

But any pain the former Maitland Tenambit BMX Club member experienced was brushed to one side after climbing atop of the podium, less than 24 hours after his campaign had almost ended.

“It feels really good,” Rodway told BMX Australia.

“It’s been a pretty bad preparation after breaking my foot but it all came together after crashing in practice this morning and I’m really stoked.

“I just swung out on the corner too wide, took off on a funny angle and the wind caught me and I just crashed.

“I thought it was over a little bit.

“My elbow seized up and I couldn’t really move it but they started moving it in first aid and I was happy about that.”

Rodway bounced back from the crash and won all of his preliminary races, headed only in the semi-final after doing enough to qualify for the decider.

He started the final in the middle of the track and after getting into prime position powered home to victory.

“That was the tactic,” he said.

“Stay out in front, try not to get in any trouble and go for the win.”

On Thursday morning Rodway was contacted by Woodberry-based Mudd, a multiple national title winner across two-wheel disciplines who mentored the now world champion in his formative years at the local track.

“What a little legend!” Mudd said.

“Can still remember Nathaniel Rodway at his first clubby at Tenambit crying because the start gate scared him. 

“Amazing to wake up with the news of you winning your age World Champs!”

Late last year Rodway won gold medals for Team Maitland at the International Children’s Games in Lake Macquarie.