Australian track cyclist Anna Meares has been officially named as the flag bearer and team captain for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games opening ceremony, and there is no question she is the right person for the job.
The announcement, which won’t come as a surprise to anyone given Meares is one of the best track cyclist of all time was made on Wednesday Morning in Federation Square, Melbourne by Australia’s chef de mission Kitty Chiller.
Meares has a decorated history at both the Olympic Games and World Championships, winning a stack of medals and being a very consistent performer for Australia, meaning she was an obvious selection.
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Her Olympic Games career started all the way back in the Athens Games of 2004, where she won gold in the 500-metre time trial ahead of Jiang Yonghua. The fascinating thing about this, Meares’ first Olympic gold medal, was that it was a world record, and she had to break it to win.
Yonghua, who rode before Meares, set the world record in a time of 34.112. Meares finished in 33.952. At just 20 years of age, it elevated the Australian to the top of the track cycling world.
Also in 2004, she would win bronze in the sprint, where 700 metres are ridden but only the final 200 metres are counted as part of the time. Meares was the fastest in the heats, then won her quarter-final, but would fall to Lori-Ann Muenzer in the semi-final.
In the bronze medal race, Meares would defeat Svetlana Grankovskaya, making it two medals in her first Olympic Games.
Come the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and Meares realistically shouldn’t have even been competing after crashing during the world championships. She would fall at speeds in excess of 60km/h, suffering a fractured c2 vertebra, as well as a dislocated right shoulder, torn ligaments, tendons and skin abrasions.
The accident could easily have paralysed or killed Meares.
She was back on the bike just ten days later, and due to her incredible performances had a high enough position in the rankings to qualify.
She couldn’t win a gold medal in Beijing, but still managed to win the silver medal in the sprint event, the same event she won bronze for in Beijing with what was one of sports great comeback stories.
Four years later in London she would add to her gold medal collection, finally winning the sprint event ahead of favourite Britain’s Victoria Pendleton.
She would also pair with Kaarle McCulloch to take the bronze medal in the team sprint, sitting her Olympic Games medal tally on five.
Besides her Olympic record, where she is the only Australian women cyclist to win two gold medals ever she has won an incredible 26 medals across 11 world championships, with 11 of them being gold. Her best world championships came in 2011 at Apeldoorn where she won three gold medals in the keirin, sprint and team sprint.
Meares has also won seven medals at the Commonwealth Games, with five of them being gold making her one of Australia’s greatest ever track cyclists.
Meares is being rated a solid chance of adding to her gold medal collection at Rio as well. Victoria Pendleton, who was her key rival in 2012, is no longer riding, but the Australian will still need to improve from the world championships held in London during March.
25 year-old Kristina Vogel will be Meares’ key rival, after winning gold in the keirin at the world championships, while the Chinese duo of Zhong Tianshi and Junhong Lin are favourites in the sprint event.
The Australian undoubtedly has the potential to add to her medal collection at Rio 2016, but for the time being there is no questioning her instalment as Australia’s flag bearer for the upcoming opening ceremony, something that is a huge honour and completes a checklist on her Olympic Games career.
commonwombat
Guest
Comm Games ........ the "Toytown Games" ??? Oh puhleeze ..... who was she competing against ?? Becky James was injured and Varnish hasnt exactly been top class. Her only competition was Morton who beat her ..... and is the far better chance of doing anything in the sprint. The Kieren .... certainly Meares remains a significant contender. The Team Sprint could snag bronze if they're "on" on that night In no way am I disrespecting Meares or any of her acheivements; she COULD walk away with at least one medal in other events in Rio. I just feel that her former "signature event" has moved on over the past 4 years and she's no longer at the business end of things of it.
delbeato
Roar Guru
She took Silver at the '14 Commonwealth Games in the individual sprint and Gold at last year's Keirin World Champs. Those are pretty strong results. I agree she's not as dominant as she once was, but she's been through a lot, including recently. It will be interesting to see what she can conjure up at the Games.
commonwombat
Guest
She's been off the podium in this event since London. Yes, she had a year out but at the last 3 Worlds the best she's been is top 8. The lack of top end speed IS telling because the lower your seeding after qualifying, the tougher your draw becomes. Morton has been beating her domestically and is the more likely to be somewhere round the medals in the sprint. Meares' tactical nous could still see her in the medal mix in the Kieren. As for the team sprint, they may make the bronze medal ride-off if they put it together.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Congratulations Anna Meares, a great choice, well deserved !
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Fantastic choice.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Don't underestimate the value of experience and composure in the sprint. I wouldn't underestimate raw speed either, but she brings some strengths to the event.
commonwombat
Guest
A worthy choice ..... and the most sensible one ! The track cycling program doesn't start until later in the first week so being involved in the opening ceremony is not likely to compromise her whereas some of the other canididates (Dwyer, Campbell, Crow) are competing the next day. As for Meares prospects; she is NOT going to go back to back victories in the sprint as others have gone past her. She may still have the smarts but no longer the top end speed. She is a minor medal chance in the team sprint but her best chance is likely to be the kieren. What she will undoubtedly be is the professional example to the rest of the track team, both male & female
delbeato
Roar Guru
Don't get me started..
Torchbearer
Guest
Maybe with Anna at the helm, that spirit will rub off on the team just a little.! A few weeks ago Michael Diamond fancied himself for this role......
Torchbearer
Guest
Totally agree, the most successful male or female ever at World Champs level with 11 titles plus that incredible Olympic story over 3 Games (and counting). You could not get a better leader for our team. Love having our team lead by Amazonian heroes like Lauren Jackson (2012) and now Anna!
delbeato
Roar Guru
She is a great choice. Inspirational woman, so dedicated, gutsy and impeccable character. Our Olympic medal haul would be so much higher if we could match the team's talent with Meares' attitude and character.
Mango Jack
Guest
Great choice. Anna Meares would sit comfortably in a list of top 10 Australian sports people of all time. A medal winner in 3 Olympic Games, multiple World Champion, incredible guts to come back from serious injury, and a great ambassador for her sport and country.