Contents
Anna Meares
Winning Olympic track medals at four consecutive Games.
500-metre gold · Sprint title
- Born
- 21 September 1983
- Birthplace
- Blackwater, Australia
More people
Anna Meares
Anna Meares is an Australian track cyclist who excelled in sprinting, the keirin and the 500-metre time trial.
Early life
Queensland
Grew up in Middlemount, a long drive from the nearest cycling track.
Sister’s example
Followed Kerrie Meares into competitive cycling at eleven.
Career
- 2002–2004
International arrival
Progressed from Commonwealth competition to Olympic gold.
- 2008
Recovery
Returned from a fractured neck to win Olympic sprint silver.
- 2012–2016
Final Olympic years
Won London sprint gold and a Rio keirin bronze before retiring.
Achievements
500-metre gold
Won in Athens with a world-record ride.
Sprint title
Defeated Victoria Pendleton in the Olympic final.
Eleventh world title
Won the keirin world championship.
Beyond cycling
Team leadership
Carried Australia’s flag at the Rio opening ceremony.
Olympic administration
Served as Australia’s chef de mission for Paris 2024.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Barry Langley. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
