AustLit

'Anna Meares started competitive cycling in 1994, aged 11, following her older sister Kerrie Meares into the sport. The family lived in a small Queensland coal-mining town, more than two hours drive from the nearest cycling track at Mackay, where the girls went to train. After developing her skills as a junior, she began training in earnest at the AIS, and saw enormous success in World Title and World Cup competitions in 2004. At the Athens Olymipcs, she won gold in the 500m Time Trial and bronze in the Sprint.

In 2008, Meares was badly injured, but fought back to win a silver in Beijing. In the years that followed, she continued to star at national and world contests, breaking records as champion of the 500m Time Trial, Team Spring, Team Sprint and Keirin, at various points. In London 2012, she took out gold against her major rival, Victoria Pendleton of Great Britain.

Meares was the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2011, and has been inducted into the AIS Best of the Best hall of fame.