Greatest Australian Cyclist

After growing up in the small Queensland mining town of Middlemount, Anna was inspired to become a cyclist by her sister Kerrie after they watched Kathy Watt win the cycling gold medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Anna started cycling competitively the same year, aged
just 11, with the nearest cycling track around 300kms away in Mackay. Two years later, the family moved to Rockhampton, making the training schedule far easier.

Anna’s training paid off when she not only won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but she was also the youngest Australian track cyclist to win Olympic gold, and the first Australian female track cyclist to win an Olympic gold medal. To top it off, she also set a new world and Olympic record in the Women’s 500 metre time trial of 33.952 seconds before winning a bronze medal in the Women’s Sprint, and was later awarded an Order of Australia medal for her achievement.

Her training was in full swing when in January 2008, Anna broke her back at the Los Angeles World Cup. She was thrown from her bike in a collision with other riders and sustained a hairline fracture to her C2 vertebrae. If it had been just two millimetres more, she would have been a quadriplegic on a respirator for the rest of her life. Her other injuries included a dislocated AC joint in her shoulder, heavy skin grazing, torn tendons and muscle tissue damage. The accident immediately threw her plans for the Beijing Olympics in August into doubt, and it was possible she may never ride again.

She was determined however, and was back on the bike within just ten days of the accident, albeit only tentatively. At the Melbourne time trial four and a half months after the accident, she was easily able to eclipse the Olympic qualifying time set by selectors in the 200 metre sprint. She was also very close to achieving a personal best time. At the Beijing Olympics, with the goodwill of Australia behind her, she won the silver medal in the Women’s Individual Sprint, the only Olympic medal won by any Australian Cyclist in any cycling discipline.

Taking the lessons learnt from her rehabilitation in 2008, Anna shifted focus to the 2012 London Olympics, where she won gold in the Sprint in an intense and historic sporting moment against long term rival Victoria Pendleton of Great Britain. It was the coming together of a 3 year plan by Anna, her coach Gary West, manager Francine Pinnuck and cycling team that saw Anna implement a great tactical display to defeat her great rival. That gold was matched by a bronze medal won in the Team Sprint.

Not satisfied with her success in London, Anna pushed on for another 4 year cycle to the Rio Olympics, in which time Anna broke further the 500m World record and won another world title taking her career total to 11 World Championship crowns making her the most successful and decorated female track cyclist in history. Anna was honoured to be the nations flagger for the Rio Olympics where her leadership exuded and went on to win her 6th Olympic career medal, a bronze in the kern. This medal makes Anna the only athlete in Australian Olympic history from any sport to win individual medals at 4 consecutive Olympic Games.

Anna retired post Rio after 22 years involved in the sport, 15 years of those representing Australia at the elite senior level. In 2018, Anna was inducted into the SA Sport Hall of Fame for sporting achievements.

Presentation topics includes

• Sportsmanship
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Resilience
• Success
• The power of the mind over the body

Testimonials

We did not have one negative comment and some of our toughest guys were moved to tears. Others commented this was our best speaker yet.
Hire and Rental Industry Association

Anna is an absolute inspiration. Our clients were intrigued with her amazing journey and hanging onto every word! A few even got emotional!
Woodards

Booked after hearing her at the women’s showcase a couple of years ago, Anna did not disappoint. Her story is inspiring, engaging and uplifting. She was also a beautiful person to deal with.
National Mortgage Brokers

Anna was excellent. Her story and delivery was inspiring and really fit into our overall conference theme and messaging
Goldman Group

Anna was a fantastic speaker and consummate professional. She spoke honestly and passionately which absolutely shone through. Our audience were totally engrossed in what she had to say and we had a lot of requests for autographs and photos afterwards.
George P Johnson Australia

Absolutely outstanding and rewarded with a standing ovation - it doesn’t get much better that that! Tells a fascinating story without trying to concoct a false way to intertwine with your event.
ProVision Eyecare

Anna was so very easy to look after from the time that we greeted her when she arrived to the time that we drove her back to her hotel accommodation at the end of our event. She was very accommodating, and engaging. Anna ‘wow’ed’ us all both as guests and event staff, and made a fantastic presentation to our dinner guests that they all really connected with. Anna went ‘above & beyond’ in her readiness to stay and take photos with our guests and chat with them as they asked questions of her, etc. One of the best athlete/sport speakers I’ve heard in awhile.
Municipal Association of Victoria

Anna was brilliant. Our delegates instantly warmed to her and her story was breathtaking. She was generous with her time, taking questions after speaking and then staying around for at least half an hour afterwards to meet people and allow photos and sign autographs. We have had nothing but great feedback.
Hardware and Building Traders

Anna was so friendly and down to earth. She was an absolute pleasure to work with and I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.
Community Living and Respite Services Inc.

Anna was outstanding from her arrival to her departure. The time she took to talk with girls prior to her presentation was appreciated as was that she gave upon conclusion to sign autographs in the grounds and answer additional questions. Anna’s presentation was second to none. Her personal warmth, good humour and ability to build a wonderful rapport with the audience resulted in a powerful and memorable talk. Our students and staff took much away on a variety of different levels. In short, she is a rocket ship and anchor all in one.
St Peters Girls School, Adelaide

An inspiring message that can be applied to business and life. A delight to work with.
Master Builders Australia

Anna was fantastic. Her story was inspirational and reflective of the strength of her character.
NSW Police Force

Anna’s keynote was inspirational. In an industry that throws up so many challenges it was incredibly powerful for our attendees to hear how Anna has overcome those obstacles both physically and emotionally. Little wonder she is a world champion.
Cooley Auctions

Anna is a delight to work with and delivered over and beyond. She had our small group enthralled for an hour.
Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd.

Anna’s speech was outstanding and an absolute highlight for our event. She was both inspirational and motivational and was extremely generous with her time. We especially valued the time she spent with the audience afterwards in speaking with her fans as well as allowing photos and signing autographs. Everyone in attendance was on an absolute high following Anna’s speech and she set the scene and a high standard for what was a great week for CQ University in hosting the Northern University Games. We cannot speak highly enough of Anna’s commitment and support of this event.
CQ University

Outstanding, better than excellent!!
QUIT Bunbury Speedway

Anna was an inspirational presenter and very entertaining. She was so open with her journey and shared the heart aches and successes in an inclusive way. Everyone was very moved and more determined than ever following Anna’s presentation.
Belle Property

Anna is an absolute inspiration and engaging presenter.
Local Government Association SA

Anna has just delivered a keynote address to our annual Professionals Congress in Perth. Her presentation was outstanding and received rave reviews from our attendees. It was on topic, well delivered and inspirational. It was easy to see that Anna's professional approach to cycling has flowed through to her speaking. She was a pleasure to work with in the lead-in to the congress and generous with her time afterwards for photos. Another gold medal performance!
Chair, Financial Planning Association of Australia

Anna was such a lovely person, and had a wonderful story of sheer determination that moved us all
Enterprise & Training Company Limited

Anna was brilliant, she was warm, professional, engaging, motivating, emotional, genuine and funny. Anna had the room captured, she ran over time but that was absolutely fine because guests were loving her. Anna exceeded my expectations. We have received so many comments from guests. Anna worked the room talking to the guests at pre-dinner drinks and around the boardroom table (50 people). Anna met with me before to view the room, talk through the event and personally sign her book, which each guest received.
KPMG