Anna Meares' sprint success in the London Olympic velodrome was a moment of immense celebration for herself and Australia as she beat her principal rival Victoria Pendleton of Britain on home territory. She also won bronze in the women’s team sprint.
Her triumph in London marked the end of an amazing journey that started in January 2008 when she broke her neck in a cycling accident. Amazingly she fought her way back for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won silver. Four years later the gold medal she won justified all her efforts.
She said: ‘It's been such a difficult challenge. I've tried so much and worked so hard for a long period of time.’ In 2012 she also won world championship gold medals in the keirin and time trial in Melbourne.
