Victorious Caluag eyes gold in 2016 Rio Olympics

INCHEON, South Korea – After BMX racer Daniel Caluag won the country's first gold here in the 17th Asian Games, the Fil-American is now setting his sights on ending Phl's medal drought in the Olympics.

Caluag was the first Asian to qualify in the BMX event in the last London Olympics but he was eliminated during the qualifying heats.

After coming up short in his first Olympic try, the 27-year-old daredevil vowed to come back stronger and better.

"2016 is still two years from now but me and my coach has already set our goal, that is the Rio Olympics. We've already taken steps and that includes this [Asian Games]," Caluag said.

There were doubts that he would win the gold here after almost one year of absence from UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) races since winning the 2013 Asian BMX Cycling Championship. He opted to concentrate on finishing his nursing degree while attending to his pregnant wife Stephanie, who just gave birth to a baby girl, Sydney Isabella, just last week.

"I'm excited to go home and hold her. I dedicate this win to my family and our countrymen," Caluag said.

"I might not have raced in the UCI events but I did compete in the US (United States) where the competition is at a very high level. Anytime you race against the top athletes, that's basically what you would see on the Olympic Stage. It's a whole process," Caluag added.

WATCH: Daniel Caluag goes for gold at the Asian Games (Video by Alder Almo)

He easily erased those doubts here. He was oozing with confidence before the race.

"There should always be that belief system in everything you do, whether it be at school, life or anything that you do," Caluag said.

There was no doubt in their team's mind that he would strike the gold here.

"He's a cut above the rest here. He's simply racing against himself. All he need is to focus," said Chris Allison, the Phl Cycling Federation project director and head coach, before the race.

True enough, Caluag was the clear cut winner from seeding run all the way to the three Moto races and nobody came really close to beating him.

He clocked 35.27 seconds in the Moto 1 then sustained his pole position in the Moto 2 after finishing at 35.36 seconds. He was the runaway winner in Moto 3 at 35.43.

Caluag is far from satisfied after winning gold medals at the Asian level in two consecutive years.

"I know we've been in a little drought in the Olympics. But if you believe, there's always hope," Caluag said.

The country last won a medal courtesy of boxer turned actor Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco's silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Games. Caluag is hoping he will end that drought in the 2016 Rio Olympics.