Written by Kerrie Meares.
My dad called a family meeting when I was about 6 years old, and asked us what sport we would like to do.
My brother and sisters wanted to try BMX, so I piped up and said that I wanted to do it too.
So BMX it was and what a great time we had.
We travelled all over the country to National and State Titles, and won lots of trophies that we often donated to encourage the kids that tried hard but didn't place.
(Kerrie at BMX Perth Nationals 1991) (Anna - first ever BMX Nationals 1989) (Starting young! Mum taking us out on our first bike ride)
After travelling thousands of kilo meters in the car over 4 years for BMX, (and the fact that mum and dad might need a little break from travelling), we decided to give away BMX for a little while and do Karate.
This was my older brother and sisters sport previous to BMX.
So for the next 2 years Scott, Tracey, Anna and I did Karate, which I really enjoyed.
I progressed to Brown belt Black Tip, Anna – Brown belt, Tracey – Black belt 2nd Dan and Scott – Black belt.
Instead of relying on mum and dad for travel, we now travelled to Karate with my big brother scott who now had a licence!
Eventually after 2 years we started having trouble with transport travelling to and from Dysart 2-3 times a week for Karate classes because Scott had to work.
There was no lessons taught in Middlemount, which is where we lived at the time.
We had to travel nearly an hour each way on weekdays, which meant a mad rush to race home from school and jump in the car to leave to get there in time.
Anna and I had to try a new sport, and we decided to take up Track Cycling after watching it on the TV when the ‘94’ Commonwealth Games was on.
I missed riding bikes so I really took this one on!
And that’s where it started, Dad opened up the phone book and found the nearest cycling club 300km away!
Mum and dad drove Anna and I to Mackay for our first race meet.
I loved it as soon as I hopped on the bike!
It was a 600km round trip from Middlemount to Mackay and back along the beef road.
Our parents were very dedicated and believed that we could do anything we set our minds to.
(Kerrie and Anna Meares 1997, QLD Middlemount.)
After 2 years of travelling to Mackay and back "every weekend", winning a few national and state titles, mum and dad decided to move to Rockhampton where there were better training facilities and coaching for us.
And of coarse cutting out the long driving hours!!!!
From there
things started to excel.
My 1st competition was the State Titles in 1995 (Townsville QLD) when I was 12.
I trained for 14 weeks, and I came 1st in the 500m Time Trial setting a QLD state record.
From then on wards I was on a serious mission.
There I was selected to compete in the under 17 category at the National Titles in Brisbane 3 weeks later.
There I broke the National record for both 500m TT, 200m fly TT, and won both Sprint and Time Trial events.
I was also recognised by the Queensland academy of sport at this time and received a scholarship.
That sort of trend continued for the next 4 years, Time Trial and Sprint became my specialty without question.
My attempt at a pursuit was funny, I was lapped and I needed a few days to recover!!!
I competed in the under 17 category for 4 years and winning both events at each consecutive nationals.
When I officially turned of age in the under 17 category to be at least the same age as one of my competitors, the under 15 category was introduced.
That was a quick description of my first few years in this very exciting sport!
Still at age 22, after competing at world championships and commonwealth games, I still am as passionate and excited about this sport as I was when Anna and I nagged dad to let us try it we saw on TV in 1994.
I train everyday, morning and afternoon.
Sometimes we
get a day off here and there and maybe an afternoon off depending on what
training block we are on.
Training includes Gym sessions which usually last for about 1-2hrs, I train on
the road for 1-2hours, and track sessions on the velodrome are around 2-3 hours
with many various efforts and exercises.
These activities vary each day, but in the start of the season where we focus on fitness and strength we have all of these sessions (track, gym and road) in the one-day few times a week!
Training is all of the above – stressful, enjoyable, tiresome, exhausting, fun, painful etc.
Sometimes we have coffee shop rides that are relaxing when we have rest days!
The speeds we get up to on the velodrome are a rush 60-70km/h +, I’m really happy when I do PB's, I’m exhausted when I have no energy left, I can’t stand up when my muscles are really sore gym.
Many feelings
but in the end that’s why I love it, its all worth it.
I think of what I am doing this for – 'my dream'- to be world and Olympic champion.
Within my cycling career I also want to break and hold the world record for the Women’s standing 500m Time Trial.
It’s not going to be easy; I look forward to learning more about myself and concur challenges that will help me with my building blocks in this sport and in my life.
I finished school in year 10 at Middlemount State High.
When I moved to Rockhampton I was offered work in the Westpac bank as a teller which I did for 2 years.
I also worked in a Tax Agency for a few weeks for work experience.
I worked in mum and dads shop “Wendy’s Chin-Inn” in Rocky for years!
What better employers than mum and dad who understand my training requirements and availability.
I spend a lot of time in Adelaide with the A.I.S track cycling team training.
When I’m not training or competing, I try and go home (Rockhampton QLD) and see my family and friends.
They understand what I do and they are great supporters, I like telling them all about the adventures I have overseas when I get home from a world cup or championship.
Most of my friends have never left Australia before, and I hope I can encourage them to go one day.
I remember how
tough it was when I went to school, I chose to miss out on all social friends
activities and parties cause it clashed with when I had to race in Mackay and
Rocky every weekend, it was the commitment I had to make to be able follow my
dreams.
One of my 'FIRST' barrier breaking years was the 1999 State Championships in Queensland.
A group of riders and myself crashed in the warm up for my 500m Time Trial.
I was unconscious, my 4 front teeth were knocked out and my face was a mess.
I had 3 weeks till the Nationals Titles and everyone thought I had no chance of going.
I remember telling peter day (coach at the time) that I wasn’t going home, I am going to the nationals.
I just didn't want all this hard work to go to waste, and this was a year of many opportunities. EG, racing internationally for the first time!
(1999, a few days after the crash with my drinking straw!) (Back on the ergo, training for the Nationals!)
Peter and his wife Sheryl took care of me over this period in the lead up to nationals, and kept a close eye on my healing progress.
I was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks cause of my teeth, I'll never take teeth for granted again – talking was more difficult then I thought.
I had loss of memory and very slow reaction to everything, which for others and myself was at times frustrating but funny also.
I didn’t really have a sense of balance for a while either because I had really bad whip lash and my body was weak.
With constant migraines, and a temporary short attention span, it was too dangerous to be out on the road!
I rode through red lights and stop signs, and it didn’t seem bother me if there was a car or two brushing up against my elbows.
So ergo training was the answer!
I was really determined to get to the Nationals cause it was selection for the Junior World Titles Australian team.
I missed 3 weeks of solid training, plus I had many dental surgeries / appointments including 2 full anaesthetics within 1 week and physio appointments.
But I managed to do maintenance work on the ergo up till the departure to the nationals in Perth.
I placed 2nd in the Under/19 500m Time Trial and in the Sprint events.
I also did a record attempt separately for the 500m Time Trial and broke the National u/19 500m record with a PB.
I also got chosen to go to Athens for the Junior World Titles where I ended up winning a silver medal in the 500m-time trial. Yay!
(The 1999 Junior World Track Cycling Team, heading off to Athens)
(Rochelle Gilmore and myself showing our silver medals that we won at 1999 Junior World Titles in Athens)
A year later I was selected to compete at the 2000 Junior World Championships where I improved on last years results by winning the Gold Medal in the 500m Time Trial.
It was a great way to complete my junior years in my career, for year 2001 I will become a senior and race up against the big girls!
A funny story to go with that, the French girl that came second to me in the Time Trial in 2000 also came second to Anna in the same event in the following year 2001 Junior World Championships!
She shook her
head, "Those Meares girls, grrrrrr!"
2000 Junior World Titles photos:
(The start of the 500m Time Trial, got to love that monster face!) (A proud coach Peter Day and myself after the medal presentation)
I love this sport, I love going fast, I love the bike skills, competition/challenge and seeing the world.
Track cycling has taken me all over Australia, Germany, Italy, America, South America, Malaysia, New Zealand, Greece, Belgium, Holland (Netherlands), Switzerland, France, Russia, England, Mexico and South Africa, with more to come in the future.
Eventually I would love to coach potential athletes after my cycling career and pass on all that I have learnt and experienced.
I have worked in a few junior training groups in Rockhampton, which were so much fun.
They are so eager to learn and it’s great to watch them improve each time they ride.
Additional information:
Anna and I specialise in the Women’s Sprint, the 500m Time Trial and the Keirin.
Track cycling takes place on a velodrome complex, these complexes can be indoor or outdoor venues and the surface types can range from board (wood), cement or bitumen.
The distance of a velodrome can range from 200m – 400m in circumference.
The steepness in the angle of the banks can be very steep or flat depending on the track size and width.
The track bike has a fixed gear system with no breaks.
There are many race events that are endurance and sprint based.
It is a lot of fun and the tactical / bike-handling skills are challenging and exciting.