She is also a personal trainer for cyclists for future Olympic games. [8] She also won a bronze medal with Kaarle McCulloch in the team sprint. Australian cycling legend Anna Meares announces her retirement after winning medals at FOUR Olympics in a row Anna Meares has retired from cycling after six medals … When the legendary Australian track cyclist retired after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, she held 11 World Championship crowns, making her the most successful and decorated female track cyclist in history. The 30-year-old equalled Kathy Watt's Australian women's record of seven Commonwealth medals and became the first rider to win a medal at four Games when she retained her title in the women's 500m time trial on … [23] On 9 December 2016, Meares received the Key to the City of Rockhampton. (2012). [22] Between 2004 and 2012 she has been named Australian Elite Female Track Cyclist of the Year seven times, she also became Australian Cyclist of the Year in 2008 and 2012. Meares also won a bronze medal in the Women's 200m Sprint event in Athens. In E. Bacon & L. Birnie (Eds. Email: info@efiinternational.com.au Australian cycling champion Anna Meares has announced her retirement after a stunning career, including six Olympic medals. [8] [18] The 'Project' involved Meares racing against male sprinter: Alex Bird; who would mimic Pendleton: former "friend" turned "enemy". With the points Meares had secured prior to the crash, she was able to fight her way back and qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[11][12]. Our relationship is one of honesty and we have a great understanding, respect and deep appreciation for one another and the roles that we each play. ANNA MEARES IN ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST REVERED ATHLETES. Going for gold again. The heat was re-run and although Guo won by a few millimetres, she was relegated for coming down the track and pushing Meares onto the côte d'azure on the final lap. In 2005, Meares enrolled in a Bachelor of Learning Design course at Central Queensland University, but deferred her studies to concentrate on sport. Anna Meares athlete news, results, photos and video from the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Check out this 2016 Summer Olympics Anna Meares bio. Anna Meares (pictured) is seen at the medal ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games, after winning gold ahead of local favourite Victoria Pendleton. At the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships Meares took the gold in the keirin—her 11th world title in total, which made her the most decorated female track cyclist of all time. The event was abolished from the Olympic program so Meares could not defend her title in 2008. Anna Meares' sixth medal elevates her among the great Australian Olympians The track cyclist’s bronze medal, her sixth in four Olympics, secures her … She currently resides in Adelaide in South Australia where the Australian Institute of Sport's Track Cycling program has its headquarters at the Adelaide Super-Drome. There was some speculation Meares would carry on until the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, but the retirement will take immediate effect. Kerrie Meares grew up close to Rockhampton in a suburb called Gracemere. [5], She was the flag-bearer and captain for the Australian team at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she won a bronze medal in keirin. "It is hard to close this chapter, because it is a bloody big one," she said. Anna Meares started competitive cycling at the age of 11 in 1994, following her older sister Kerrie Meares into the sport. [2] This made her the first Australian to win individual medals in four consecutive Olympics. Dr Francine Pinnuck has been managing Anna since 2006 and does so without any financial benefit. During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, she won a gold medal, and set a new world record in the Women's 500-metre time trial of 33.952 seconds. Photo: Tim de Waele/Corbis via Getty Images. Anna has two Olympic gold medals, won eight years apart. When asked about her tactics, perceived as being unsporting, she responded: "this is sport [...] We're not out there to have a cup of tea". [26], Anna Meares is currently sponsored by Uvex safety[28] and In the decider Pendleton won in a photo finish, with Meares settling for bronze after defeating Lyubov Shulika. It was an official venue for the track cycling at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Company: EFI International She is a 4-time Olympian, 2-time Olympic champion with 6 Olympic medals (Bronze - Rio 2016, Gold and Bronze - London 2012, Silver - Beijing 2008, Gold and Bronze - Athens 2004), 11 time world champion across four different disciplines and a five time Commonwealth Games champion. (See Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics). The third heat saw Guo come down the banking too steeply and her front wheel slipped from beneath her. This medal makes Anna the only athlete in Australian Olympic history from any sport to win individual medals at 4 consecutive Olympic Games. The special relationship between Anna and Francine is based on a high level of trust and mutual respect. A two-time Olympic Games gold medallist and the only Australian to win a medal in an individual event at four Olympics, Anna retired from competitive cycling after the Rio Games in 2016. [13] In qualification for the individual sprint Meares broke the world record for the flying start 200 metres. It's not always about being skinny. Athletics. She is a passionate cyclist and has worked tirelessly giving back to the sport of cycling, working with a number of international cyclists. The family were inspired to take up competitive cycling by Kathy Watt winning a cycling gold medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The only Australian athlete to have won individual medals at four consecutive Olympic Games, she rounded off her brilliant career with keirin bronze at Rio 2016. Pendleton clashed with the Australian in their first heat and ended up on the floor before Meares was relegated from the second for going outside of her lane. Former Australian cyclist Anna Meares gives birth to first child. She is a 4-time Olympian, 2-time Olympic champion with 6 Olympic medals (Bronze - Rio 2016, Gold and Bronze - London 2012, Silver - Beijing 2008, Gold and Bronze - Athens 2004), 11 time world champion across four different disciplines and a five time Commonwealth Games champion and she was the flag bearer for the Glasgow 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Rio Olympics where she … Meares completed her four laps in just 10.782 seconds shaving 11 thousands of a second off Simona Krupeckaite's mark. She returned to competitions in July 2013. Australia have captured 21 golds, along with 26 silver and 26 bronze medals in Athletics … Meares recorded 33.010 seconds to break the record by .286 of a second which was previously held by Simona Krupeckaite. Manager: Dr Francine Pinnuck [4], The Anna Meares Bike Path adjacent to Sir Donald Bradman Drive near Adelaide Airport was named after Meares in 2012. Also claimed first in the 2004 World Cup Time Trial in Sydney. With the time Meares won her second title of the championships and equaled Felicia Ballanger's record of ten world titles. [25], Meares is a worldwide ambassador for the Port Adelaide Football Club. It is called the Anna Meares Velodrome and it was opened on 12 November 2016. Anna says "the relationship between the athlete and the manager is about understanding one another and honesty. In February 2020 she gave birth to a daughter, Evelyn, with her partner Nick Flygger. She won a bronze medal in the keirin, placing tenth in the individual sprint and fourth in the team sprint. [6], On 16 October 2016 Meares announced her official retirement from her current competitive cycling career.[7]. It's about your presentation and your confidence and everyone is unique."[8]. Find the perfect Anna Meares Olympics stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Francine has worked with Anna to gain sponsors of great integrity and ethics, all of whom are gold medal champions and leaders at the national and international level. Francine has not only been a manager but a mentor for Anna, as being a champion is not just about winning gold medals, it's fundamentally about being a gold medal citizen on and off the track. Michael Freiberg won the gold medal in the Men's omnium in 2011 . Kerrie and Olympic sister Anna Meares now have streets named after them. Meares had an eventful semi-final in the sprint at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In the team sprint Meares won silver as Germany set two world records in the event. [20], In late February 2015, Meares competed at the world championships and won three medals. Meares crashed in the third round of the World Cup circuit in Los Angeles in January 2008, seven months out from the Olympics. Slot, O. Management contact details Double Olympic champion in 2004 (500m time trial) and 2012 (sprint), track cyclist Anna Meares is gunning for gold again in Rio. [24], Meares has a velodrome in Brisbane named after her. Anna MEARES The most successful female track cyclist in the history of the UCI World Championships, Anna Meares is also Australia’s most decorated cycling Olympian, with six medals to her name. A ustralian Anna Meares became the most successful woman ever at the track cycling world championships, while hosts France topped the medals table a year before the Olympic Games on Sunday. ANNA MEARES – A CHAMPION AND A TRUE SPORTSWOMAN Anna Meares' Olympic record Athens 2004: Gold, women's 500m time trial This put Meares through to the final ride-off for gold against Victoria Pendleton, where she was beaten and received the silver medal. At the 2012 World Championships which took place in Meares' home country of Australia in Melbourne, Meares was favourite for three gold medals. Weight. 1983-09-21. [1], Meares took rest after the 2012 Olympics and skipped the 2013 World Championship. Meares had to beat a new Olympic record set just minutes previously by the reigning World Record holder, Yonghua Jiang of China. Height. With the family living in the small Queensland coal-mining town of Middlemount, it was more than two hours drive to the nearest cycling track at Mackay for the girls to train. Anna Meares. With the family living in the small Queensland coal-mining town of Middlemount, it was more than two hours drive to the nearest cycling track at Mackay for the girls to train. Going for gold again. Her many other feats included four Commonwealth Games gold medals, one world championship time trial bronze medal, stage wins in various tours, including four stages at the Giro Donne in Italy in which she also placed third overall in 1990 and second in 1994, four Oceania gold medals and 24 national title wins in road, track and mountain bike. She was voted Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2011[21] and 2011 inducted into the AIS 'Best of the Best'. Source: Instagram/Anna Meares. Having lost the first heat to her opponent Guo Shuang, she won the second heat. Australian cycling champion Anna Meares has announced she’s pregnant with her first baby with her partner, the … 165 cm. [4] The family were inspired to take up competitive cycling by Kathy Watt winning a cycling gold medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Anna Meares won her first gold medal in 2004 and became the star of Australian track cycling. Over the course of her career, Meares has talked about how gradually she became aware of her position as a role model, portraying "a different stereotypical image of what it is to be a strong woman. [17], In preparation for the Olympics, Meares and her coach, West, tailored a 'Project Know Thy Enemy' program. Pendleton versus Meares. If I were to describe our relationship. Check out this 2016 Summer Olympics Anna Meares bio. Anna Meares started competitive cycling at the age of 11 in 1994, following her older sister Kerrie Meares into the sport. Anna retired post Rio after 22 years involved in the sport, 15 years of those representing Australia at the elite senior level. Astonishingly she was back on the bike just 10 days after the fall and went through intensive rehabilitation. Toshiba[29]. - Australian cyclist Anna Meares will attempt to defend her women's sprint title on Saturday and become the joint most decorated track cyclist in Commonwealth Games history. Phone: (08) 83325495. Cyclist Anna Meares has had many highlights throughout her career, including six Olympic medals, but says nothing compares to the feeling of being a mum. In the first sprint of the final, Pendleton crossed the line first, but was controversially relegated after illegally moving off her line as the cyclists sped through the final banking, which many believe was as a result of Meares aggressive riding. Following retirement from cycling, via the Adelaide Advertiser Kerrie announced her marriage to Olympic speed-skater Emily Rosemond in 2015. ), 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, 2009–2010 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics, "Rio 2016: Anna Meares always destined to succeed, former coach says - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)", "Anna Meares becomes most decorated female track rider in history", "Anna Meares announces retirement from professional cycling", "Anna Meares announces retirement from cycling after career including six Olympic medals", "New crop in circle thanks to Uni-hosted talent ID", "Anna Meares: I'm lucky, but disappointed", "Anna Meares: Back from the brink to chase more gold", "2012 UCI Track World Championships » Women's Sprint", "Track Worlds: Victoria Pendleton wins sprint gold despite crash", "2012 UCI Track World Championships » Second world record for Aussie golden girl Meares, Australia finish world champs on top", "Rio 2016: The breaking and re-making of Anna Meares", "Track cyclist Alex Bird moves on from snub to nationals swansong", "Anna Meares' first woman to go under 33 seconds in event", "New $900k bike path skirting Adelaide Airport is named after Anna Meares", "Anna Meares to receive Key to the Rockhampton City", "Anna Meares Velodrome: World's newest indoor cycling venue unveiled", Port ambassador to carry nation's flag for Rio, "Victoria Pendleton loses to Anna Meares in last ever race", "Anna Meares profile – Australian Cycling Federation", "Road To Beijing Diaries: Anna Meares, Track Cycling", Olympic Cycling Champions in Women's Individual Sprint, Olympic Cycling Champions in women's track time trial, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anna_Meares&oldid=1023394669, Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia, Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia, Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Australia, UCI Track Cycling World Champions (women), Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia, Sports-Reference template missing archive parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 May 2021, at 04:52. A track cyclist with six Olympic medals to her name and a history-making comeback story, Anna Meares is one of Australia’s most beloved sporting heroes. Meares won the second sprint to win 2–0 and take the gold medal. [8][19], At the 2012 London Olympics, Meares qualified for the final of the sprint, where she again faced Victoria Pendleton. She is a 4-time Olympian, 2-time Olympic champion with 6 Olympic medals (Bronze - Rio 2016, Gold and Bronze - London 2012, Silver - Beijing 2008, Gold and Bronze - Athens 2004), 11 time world champion across four different disciplines and a five time Commonwealth Games champion. Anna Maree Devenish Meares[1] OAM (born 21 September 1983) is an Australian retired track cyclist. Date of birth. [9][10], Meares made an astonishing come back from a very bad cycling accident at the World Cup in January 2008 when she broke her neck. A typical 500 metre time trial race of Anna's lasts 33.583 seconds, but developing a relationship and being an ethical role model and citizen is a life time duration. In 2002 Meares narrowly missed a bronze medal in the inaugural inclusion of the 500-metre time trial at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, while her older sister, Kerrie Meares won the gold medal in the event. She won a bronze medal in the sprint.[4]. In 2014, Morton beat Meares for … Blackwater. 72.0 kg [4], At the 2016 Rio Olympics Meares took part in three events. Anna Meares competed at four Olympic Games, winning two gold medals for Australia. In Athens, she became the first Aussie female gold medallist in track cycling, winning the 500-metre time trial. Anna calls the silver medal she won at Beijing her ‘white gold’, because she earned it despite having broken her neck in a … [16] Meares set her second world record of the championships in her final event. Double Olympic champion in 2004 (500m time trial) and 2012 (sprint), track cyclist Anna Meares is gunning for gold again in Rio. In total, Meares won six Olympic medals and 11 world titles. In May 2004 at the Time Trial World Titles in Melbourne Meares claimed the title of Women's World time trial champion, and won a silver for the sprint event. Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch won the gold medal in the women's team sprint in 2011. She has been the 500 metre track time trial world champion on four occasions, and a gold medallist at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Anna Meares is one of Australia's favourite sporting heroes and one of the most talented athletes in the world. Meares, who also took silver in the 500-metre time trial and bronze in the team sprint, took her tally to 26 world medals to surpass the total of Briton Chris Hoy (25). Francine is the Director of EFI International and is based in Dubai. Birthplace . READ MORE PROFILE FAQ The life of Anna Meares Anna is an 11 time world cycling champion and the only Australian athlete to win medals at 4 consecutive Olympics. Select from premium Anna Meares Olympics of the highest quality. Each has a role to play even though we are individuals the big picture is that without the two of us working together as a team there is simply no race to contest let alone be won. [15] In the keirin, Meares won both her qualifying races before reaching the final, where she held off Russian Ekaterina Gnidenko and German Kristina Vogel to win the first of two world championships in Melbourne. Anna Meares OAM is the only athlete in Australian Olympic history, from any sport, to win individual medals at four consecutive Olympic Games. The objective was to run multiple racing scenarios and find the best tactic to beat "Queen Vic". It is like a team sprint. Double Olympic champion in 2004 (500m time trial) and 2012 (sprint), track cyclist Anna Meares is gunning for gold again in Rio. Michael Hepburn won the bronze medal in the Men's individual pursuit in 2011 . Meares fractured her C2 vertebra, dislocated her right shoulder, suffered torn ligaments and tendons, a heavily bruised right hip and skin abrasions as a result of skin sliding on wood when she crashed at 65 km/h. She also separated from her husband of nine years, Mark Chadwick, early in 2015. For a sprinter who had emerged in the shadows of Anna Meares, ... and were subsequently awarded Order of Australia medals. [2], In 2001 Meares was awarded the Australian Junior Women's Track Cyclist of the Year. [4] Later that year she set a new world record of 32.836 seconds in the women's 500 m time trial at the UCI Mexico Track World Cup, making her the first woman to go under 33 seconds in the event. [14] In the semi final Meares faced her old rival Pendleton. She served as the Australian flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.