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theAdelaide magazine20

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theAdelaide magazine 21

insight

It takes a champion team to create a champion cyclist. Anna Meares tells us what it takes

to win gold at the Olympics

winn i ng

f o r m u l aw o r d s G o r d o n K a n K i K n i G h t

p h o t o g r a p h y d av i d s o l m

nna Meares sat, eyes closed, near the edge

of the steep wooden cycling track on a

winter’s day in 2004. “You’re about to go up

on the track,” her psychologist began in a

measured voice. “You can hear the noise of

the crowd. You can see the colours of the

flags,” she continued, slowly ramping up the

visualisation. “You can hear the camera

flashes popping. You can feel the heat and

you can feel the energy. You can hear the

buzz of wheels as riders warm up. Riders have

ridden before you. The world record could

fall. The Olympic record could fall.”

Anna tensed, sweat beaded on her

palms. Then, with a sharp command of

“Right. You’re up!” she was sent to ride

around Adelaide’s indoor velodrome.

“I opened my eyes,” says Anna, “and I was

overwhelmed by the image in my mind, even

though the velodrome was silent and empty.”

Her hands were so sweaty she could

barely grip the handlebars, she couldn’t

swallow and her legs felt like lead. She was

almost a second slower than usual because

of the stress of what she thought she’d feel

and see at the Olympic Games.

The same visualisation was repeated for

two months until Friday, August 20, 2004,

when Anna took her seat beside the wooden

track of the Athens Olympic velodrome. It was

hot and noisy. Cameras were flashing. The

Olympic record had just fallen. But Anna was

calm and focused. She could grip the

handlebars, her legs felt light and she was fast

– new-world-record fast. The Olympic gold

medal for the 500m time trial was hers.

Anna’s psychologist is just one of dozens

of coaches, sport scientists, doctors,

physiotherapists, mechanics, nutritionists,

masseurs, sponsors and mentors who have

helped turn her into a 10-time world

champion and multiple Olympic medallist

(see p22). And when she’s on the start line in

London on Wednesday at her third Games,

the 28-year-old will draw on a deep well of

training and expertise covering the body,

brain, bike and backers.

The Body

Anna Meares has the DNA of a winner. Her

New Zealand-born father Tony is a coalminer

in Middlemount, central Queensland – where

Anna was raised – and played grade rugby

union. “Dad’s a pretty big guy,” says Anna. “He’s just shy of six foot and very solid.”

Anna smiles as she tells a story about when he agreed to his rugby coach’s plan to fire up the giant on their team. “The coach asked Dad to get in the scrum and punch this gentle giant in the guts, so he would think it was the opposition,” she laughs. “Dad would do this every game!”

While Anna’s powerful legs – and

perhaps her ability to give as good as she gets – come from her dad’s side, she has mum Marilyn to thank for her speed. “Mum looks fragile, but she’s very strong. When she was younger she was the [Queensland] state 100m sprint champion in athletics,” says Anna. “She still has the flag that she won hanging on the wall.”

Go back a generation to Anna’s grandparents and you find guts, determi-nation – and intelligence. On Anna’s dad’s side, grandmother Olive was a professor, grandfather John was “creative, very good with arts” and a trooper in a Light Horse Regiment in World War II. On her mum’s side, “Nan” Daphne and “Pa” Bill – who also served during the war – were “dedicated and hard-working” farmers.

The right DNA has made Anna a genetic outlier. She packs a world-beating amount of power into her 165cm-tall frame, squatting more than twice her 72kg body weight, but this was far from the case when she and sister Kerrie took up track and road cycle racing in 1994. The nearest cycling club was in Mackay, so the sisters would be driven 300km from Middlemount every Friday to compete. Kerrie often won, but Anna struggled. “I wasn’t talented when I started,” she says. “I was very short, I was skinny – I was just making up the numbers and collecting the competitor ribbons.”

Deeply committed to their children, Tony and Marilyn moved the family to Rockhampton – where they ran a chicken shop “seven days a week, 365 days a year for six years” – so the sisters could train with other riders. At 13, Anna became the only girl to train under local coach Kenrick “Reggie” Tucker. Reggie, a local legend, coached his son Kenrick Jr to Commonwealth

Games gold medals in 1978 and 1982. He

demands total commitment from his riders,

even 13-year-olds. Those who show discipline

invariably blossom into champions.

“Reggie could see that I could read a race,

and that I understood the tactics, I just didn’t

have the physical ability to implement them,”

laughs Anna. “He’s very old-school – with him

it’s not about being strong and powerful, it’s

about being technically perfect.”

Reggie coached Anna to national and

junior world titles and her first senior

Australian team, but when Anna turned 19,

Reggie told her it was time to (cont. p24)

B I K e

THE GYM“I’m squatting

145kg. But it’s not just about the legs and glutes, the upper

body has to be stable for the power to be delivered directly through to the pedals – and you need to be able to pull evenly on the bars

to maintain a smooth and ef� cient riding style.”

A BIKE CALLED BETTY

“I give my bikes names. In Athens, my yellow BT Stealth I called Stella, in Beijing my

Blade I called Boris – from the Snatch movie – and the bike I’m riding on at the moment

I call Betty.”

BorN23 september, 1983, in Blackwater, Queensland, to tony (rugby player

and miner) and Marilyn (former Queensland 100m running champion)

peaK poweranna’s personal best power

output is 1800 watts, currently in the lead-up to the olympics she was putting out up to 1700

watts in training.

techNoLogy

SNaP!anna wears bespoke

shoes crafted by Italian fi rm dMt that can cope

with the amount of power she puts through

them. “I’ve broken shoes, so when I tried dMt shoes I was sold. dMt is making me a

pair just for the games.”

It takes a team of talented professionals, the right training environment and great genes to create an Olympic gold medallist

creatINg a chaMpIoN

t I M e L I N e ( y e a r )

201020091980 2012

B od

y

B

I Ke

Stefan Brück at German � rm Uvex, created a helmet for me – at a cost of $175,000 – that is unique and incredibly aerodynamic

= World championship win

THE GYM“I’m squatting

145kg. But it’s not just about 145kg. But it’s not just about 145kg. But it’s not just about 145kg. But it’s not just about the legs and glutes, the upper the legs and glutes, the upper the legs and glutes, the upper

body has to be stable for the power body has to be stable for the power body has to be stable for the power to be delivered directly through to to be delivered directly through to the pedals – and you need to be the pedals – and you need to be able to pull evenly on the bars

to maintain a smooth and ef� cient riding style.”

A BIKE CALLED BETTY

“I give my bikes names. In Athens, my yellow BT Stealth I called Stella, in Beijing my

Blade I called Boris – from the Snatch movie – and the bike I’m riding on at the moment

I call Betty.”

BorN23 september, 1983, in Blackwater, Queensland, to tony (rugby player

and miner) and Marilyn (former Queensland 100m running champion)

peaK poweranna’s personal best power anna’s personal best power anna’s personal best power

output is 1800 watts, currently output is 1800 watts, currently in the lead-up to the olympics in the lead-up to the olympics in the lead-up to the olympics she was putting out up to 1700 she was putting out up to 1700 she was putting out up to 1700 she was putting out up to 1700

watts in training. watts in training.

techNoLogytechNoLogy

SNaP!SNaP!anna wears bespoke anna wears bespoke

shoes crafted by Italian shoes crafted by Italian fi rm dMt that can cope fi rm dMt that can cope

with the amount of with the amount of power she puts through power she puts through

them. “I’ve broken them. “I’ve broken them. “I’ve broken shoes, so when I tried shoes, so when I tried shoes, so when I tried shoes, so when I tried dMt shoes I was sold. dMt shoes I was sold. dMt shoes I was sold. dMt is making me a dMt is making me a

pair just for the games.”pair just for the games.”

It takes a team of talented professionals, the It takes a team of talented professionals, the It takes a team of talented professionals, the It takes a team of talented professionals, the right training environment and great genes right training environment and great genes right training environment and great genes right training environment and great genes to create an Olympic gold medallistto create an Olympic gold medallistto create an Olympic gold medallistto create an Olympic gold medallistto create an Olympic gold medallist

creatINg creatINg creatINg a chaMpIoNa chaMpIoNa chaMpIoNa chaMpIoN

t I M e L I N e ( y e a r )

201020091980 2012

B od

y

B

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Stefan Brück at Stefan Brück at German � rm Uvex, German � rm Uvex, German � rm Uvex, created a helmet for created a helmet for created a helmet for me – at a cost of me – at a cost of me – at a cost of me – at a cost of $175,000 – that is $175,000 – that is $175,000 – that is unique and incredibly unique and incredibly unique and incredibly aerodynamic aerodynamic

Stefan Brück at German � rm Uvex,

= World championship win World championship win= World championship win=

eQuIPPedthe australian cycling team went to London with an incredible 1.5 tonnes of equipment,

including 20 track bikes, 25 sets of racing

wheels, 15 sets of training wheels, 14

road bicycles and 14 stationary trainers.

= Olympic medal

unique and incredibly unique and incredibly unique and incredibly

500m time trial, 2004, Melbourne

500m time trial, 2004, athens

team sprint, 2009, pruszków, poland

500m time trial, 2010, Ballerup, denmark

500m time trial, 2012, Melbourne

ready to race anna trains on a bike that

weighs 7.5kg. But lighter race wheels and the removal of her powermeter – which measures torque, speed,

power and cadence – will reduce the weight to 6.88kg

for her events in London.

FLeecy Footwearanna has employed a low-tech solution to keeping warm – ugg boots. “My ugg boots are going

with me to London. I think it’s the Queenslander in me – my feet are always cold. It’s quite a look

– Lycra and ugg boots!”

The challenge of competition is the carrot that is dangling on cold winter training days

The challenge of competition is The challenge of competition is

training days

suppLeMeNts“as a strength-based

athlete my body is very responsive to what’s

put in. I’ve learned a lot about my nutrition and

supplementation through [sponsor] Musashi”

B a c K e r s

SPONSORS“The reason my career has

taken off over the past six years is that sponsorship has removed some of the � nancial burden and let me focus on the task at hand, which is

the training and preparing for big competitions.”

ATTITUDENational coach Gary West

works hard to maintain a positive and harmonious environment in his AIS training squad. Potential recruits are scrutinised and the concerns of

squad members are considered before anyone is invited to join

the small, elite squad.

you’re BacKINg aNNa, tooevery australian contributes to anna’s success via australian

sports commission grants to all sports of about $110m a year. “what

I do as an athlete for australia is a huge privilege – not a right. so, I want to work hard to justify what

has been spent on me.”

partNerINg wIth charItIes

anna is ambassador for the Little heroes Foundation

“helping to raise funds for a worthy cause and putting

a smile on the faces of children fi ghting cancer”

rest & recoVery while fi nishing every

training session used to be seen as a way of building

mental toughness, the latest approach sees cyclists sent home to get more rest if they

can’t hit defi ned training targets. unisa’s sleep

research lab has provided valuable techniques to ensure riders are suffi ciently rested.

pre-race preparatIoN“Before a race I’m a little

bit edgy and quiet. I’m uncomfortable to be spoken

to and to be engaged in a conversation. It’s hard to

be nervous and fi lled with energy and expectation and to then switch it off and talk

to someone about what’s happened in the paper.”

posItIVe IMagery anna’s fi rst sports

psychologist, georgia riddler, introduced her

to the mental skill of imagery, which

helped her overcome her apprehensions before her

fi rst olympic race.

doINg It tough“you’re only as good as you are on a bad day,” says anna’s fi rst coach reggie tucker. “there are no tricks – it’s a mental approach. you’ve got

to be prepared to do it tough.”

2010 2009 19802012

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cK

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SPONSORS“The reason my career has

taken off over the past six years is that sponsorship has removed some of the � nancial burden and let me focus on the task at hand, which is

the training and preparing for big competitions.”

ATTITUDENational coach Gary West

works hard to maintain a positive and harmonious environment in his AIS training squad. Potential recruits are scrutinised and the concerns of

squad members are considered squad members are considered before anyone is invited to join before anyone is invited to join

the small, elite squad.

you’re BacKINg aNNa, tooevery australian contributes to anna’s success via australian

sports commission grants to all sports of about $110m a year. “what

I do as an athlete for australia is a huge privilege – not a right. so, I want to work hard to justify what want to work hard to justify what

has been spent on me.”has been spent on me.”

partNerINg wIth charItIes

anna is ambassador for the anna is ambassador for the anna is ambassador for the Little heroes Foundation Little heroes Foundation Little heroes Foundation

“helping to raise funds for a “helping to raise funds for a “helping to raise funds for a “helping to raise funds for a worthy cause and putting worthy cause and putting

a smile on the faces of a smile on the faces of children fi ghting cancer” children fi ghting cancer”

rest & recoVeryrest & recoVeryrest & recoVerywhile fi nishing every while fi nishing every

training session used to be training session used to be seen as a way of building seen as a way of building

mental toughness, the latest mental toughness, the latest approach sees cyclists sent approach sees cyclists sent home to get more rest if they home to get more rest if they

can’t hit defi ned training can’t hit defi ned training targets. unisa’s sleep targets. unisa’s sleep

research lab has provided research lab has provided valuable techniques to ensure valuable techniques to ensure riders are suffi ciently rested.

pre-race preparatIoN“Before a race I’m a little

bit edgy and quiet. I’m uncomfortable to be spoken uncomfortable to be spoken

to and to be engaged in a to and to be engaged in a conversation. It’s hard to conversation. It’s hard to

be nervous and fi lled with be nervous and fi lled with energy and expectation and energy and expectation and energy and expectation and to then switch it off and talk to then switch it off and talk

to someone about what’s to someone about what’s happened in the paper.” happened in the paper.”

posItIVe IMageryposItIVe IMageryanna’s fi rst sports anna’s fi rst sports

psychologist, georgia riddler, introduced her

to the mental skill of imagery, which

helped her overcome her apprehensions before her

fi rst olympic race.

doINg It toughdoINg It tough“you’re only as good as you are on ’re only as good as you are on ’re only as good as you are on a bad day,” says anna’s fi rst coach a bad day,” says anna’s fi rst coach a bad day,” says anna’s fi rst coach reggie tucker. “there are no tricks reggie tucker. “there are no tricks reggie tucker. “there are no tricks reggie tucker. “there are no tricks – it’s a mental approach. you’ve got – it’s a mental approach. you’ve got – it’s a mental approach. you’ve got

to be prepared to do it tough.”to be prepared to do it tough.”to be prepared to do it tough.”

2010 2009 19802012

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For more Olympic news, visit adelaidenow.com.au/olympics

We’ve drawn the best Australian riders to Adelaide to train and create a competitive environment

We’ve drawn the We’ve drawn the We’ve drawn the We’ve drawn the best Australian

a competitive a competitive environment

MeNtorsanna has a close relationship with her sponsors. she describes Maria Mccarthy, sponsorship manager at

Bhp Billiton, as “someone I can go to for advice and really talk to”. equally, toshiba sponsorship head Mariana

thomas “is always on my case about going to university and looking after

myself after my sport”.

I have let go of emotion... I look at Vicky Pendleton as just an opponent. I’m not racing Vicky, I’m racing a strategy

I have let go of emotion... I look at emotion... I look at

a strategy

Keirin, 2012, Melbourne 500m time trial, 2007, palma, Majorca

sprint, 2004, athens

sprint, 2008, Beijing

Keirin, 2011, apeldoorn, Netherlands

sprint, 2011, apeldoorn,

Netherlands

team sprint, 2011, apeldoorn, Netherlands

team sprint, 2010, Ballerup, denmark

cLeVer MaNageMeNt “Francine [pinnuck] has been

mentoring me and teaching me that there’s a lot more to sport

than just riding a bike.”

BalaNCeanna balances life on the bike with a

passion for learning and the arts. she has a Bachelor of Learning design from central

Queensland university and enjoys painting

and drawing.

theAdelaide magazine24

insight

head for Adelaide and the science-based coaching of the AIS.

Anna was initially sceptical of the methods employed by her new coach – the outgoing, upbeat and incredibly successful Martin ‘Marv’ Barras. “I came into a very modern coaching style with Marv,” she says. “When I got here I was a little fatty and I was squatting the warm-up weight of all the other girls – 60kg was my maximum squat. Now, I’m squatting 145kg.” Squatting that sort of weight is risky – so physiotherapist Stan Garland is always on standby. Anna calls Stan “Magic Man”. “I don’t know how he does it,” says Anna, “but I’ll tear a disc, I’ll rip a hamstring and I’m back on the bike as soon as possible.”

Just as important is the woman Anna calls “Team Mum” – Berthy May of Brooklyn Park. Berthy is the team soigneur, a role that includes feeding, clothing, escorting and massaging the riders. “Berthy works harder and does more than is required of her job title,” says Anna. “When we go away, she’ll sew our trackpants if our big legs split them… if the hotel food is not good enough she’s out scouting for food or is in the kitchen herself. She’s the glue that bonds the staff with the athletes.”

Anna’s current coach, Gary West, describes Anna as “mature and driven” and “a model athlete”, and the respect is mutual. “Gary has helped me win eight of the 10 world titles I’ve won,” says Anna. “It took a little while for us to suss each other out, but once that happened: Click! World title, world title, world title, world title. He always looks for ways to get a little more from the athletes, his staff and himself.”

the BikeAnna’s events can be won or lost by hundredths of seconds, so any technical advantage is sought out. Her carbon-fibre bicycle frame is created in Melbourne by Bike Technologies, headed by Sal Sansonetti (who cycled at the 1976 Games). The result of countless hours of wind-tunnel, stress and load testing, the frame is arguably the best in the world, and it needs to be. When sprinting, Anna produces up to 1800 watts of power; that’s more than world road cycling champion Mark Cavendish creates at full speed.

Anna’s tyres, made by Italian firm Vittoria and designed in conjunction with the Australian track team, weigh in at just 140g and can be inflated to 220psi. Ceramic bearings in her wheels save about 30 watts of energy compared with steel bearings. The Australian team also helped design Anna’s handlebars by Milanese firm 3T – ensuring they are stiff, aerodynamic and offer optimum ergonomics.

Anna gets hands on with her bike. “If I go to a race and my bike is scratched or there’s dirt on it, that shows that I don’t care for my equipment, and the equipment is not going to function at its best,” she says.

Again it’s a lesson from Reggie Tucker. For Reggie, maintaining your own bike is about forging a bond between bike and rider. “You can’t ride a bike if you know nothing about it. If I don’t make you a good bike rider I’ll make you a good mechanic!” he laughs.

One thing that’s distinctly low-tech on Anna’s bike is her old leather-cov-ered saddle. “They’ve tried for years to get me off that saddle because it’s heavy, but I’ve ridden it for years – it’s moulded to me perfectly.”

the BrainA chance meeting with former national cycling coach Charlie Walsh – who took Australian cycling from the doldrums of the 1976 Olympics to the top of the world – gave her another edge. Anna came to respect Charlie after she attended a talk he gave on dedication and persistence. “I really resonated with Charlie’s presentation,” says Anna. “He’s been giving advice on [performance] delivery on those days when it’s cold and you’re tired and not switched on.”

Anna first learned about the need to be switched on as a teenager. Reggie Tucker made it a rule that everyone he trained had to be on the track and ready to train at 4pm. Anna was never late, Reggie says. “After Anna left to live in Adelaide, I rocked up at the track and all the bike riders are sitting outside the gate. ‘What are you all bloody doing sitting out here?’ I said. And they told me they haven’t got a key to get in. ‘What do you mean you haven’t got a key? How the bloody hell did you get in last time?’ ‘Oh, Anna always lets us in and locks up.’”ha

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When it came to working with the AIS sports psychologists and following the team’s strict rules, Anna already knew about preparation and dedication. “Her attention to detail is impeccable,” says West. She has also learned to deal with the mind games played by key rivals – in particular British world champion Vicky Pendleton. “I’m expecting Vicky to be in the form that I’ve never seen her in [in London],” says Anna. “But I’ve learned to let go of any emotional attachment to Vicky and anything she may say or do. That’s allowed me to look at her as just an opponent, just race a strategy.”

Anna first learnt race strategy from former professional sprinter Sean Eadie. “Sean’s a big man, and he scared the living daylights out of me when I first moved to Adelaide. But he’s really gentle, kind and caring. He came to my training sessions to help me learn to be a better sprinter. Sean’s lessons have since been refined with the lessons learnt from Marv Barras and time spent in analysis and application of tactics with Gary West and Anna’s teammate Alex Bird.

the BackersAnna has forged close, long-term relationships with key brands. It’s a partnership that works both ways: Anna goes out of her way to give something of herself to her sponsors, in return, she receives valuable advice from business leaders such as Maria McCarthy, head of sponsorship at BHP Billiton. BHP Billiton has stuck with Anna through good times

and bad, and it’s a perfect fit. “I was brought up a miner’s daughter, so I have an intimate knowledge of what life is like in regional communities,” says Anna. “I really enjoy getting into the mix of things out there – to where there are kids and families who are just like me when I was growing up. I like showing them what they can achieve.”

Anna has a similar relationship with technology firm Toshiba, taking advice from national marketing manager Mariana Thomas, who has become a mentor. “Their attitude towards their company is always one of looking forward – you might have setbacks but the goal is to keep knocking the bar to where other people can’t reach it.”

Two Adelaide firms also support Anna. Zink hair salon “taught me how to get some style”, laughs Anna, and Adelaide BMW, who learned that Anna was riding a scooter, offered a car that befits a world champion.

Anna counts her manager, Dr Francine Pinnuck, as a good friend. “Francine has taught me that there’s a lot more to sport than just riding a bike – she’s mentored me in terms of media, in terms of speaking, in terms of business management.”

But of course, Anna’s number-one backer is her husband, Mark Chadwick. “Mark gives me a level of grounded-ness. My home is my sanctuary, and my sanctuary has Mark in it. When I walk into my home I leave cycling behind. I leave the challenge, I leave the pressure and I get a hug,” she says. “He loves me – medal or no medal, world title or no world title, it doesn’t change for him.”

anna Meares trains at adelaide’s superdrome with national cycling coach gary west

Go behind the scenes on our covershoot at

theadMag. coM.au

checK out our cover shoot with anna at

theadMag. coM.au