South Australian track cyclist Bree Hargrave will take on competitors half her age at the Commonwealth Games – صحيفة الصوت

At an age where most elite athletes are well into retirement, South Australian track cyclist Bree Hargrave is fulfilling a lifelong dream: qualifying for this year’s Commonwealth Games.

The 39-year-old said her journey to Birmingham, however, was anything but traditional.

“Growing up at school it was all about athletics,” Hargrave said.

“I always wanted to make the Aussie team. Ever since being a little kid, that was my dream, to represent Australia in sport.

“I was trying, trying, trying and I couldn’t crack into the team. I had given it a good 10 years.”

It was an email from the Australian Institute of Sport that changed her trajectory, taking her away from track and field and putting her on a bike saddle for the first time.

“I received an email from the AIS titled ‘Are you a Fast, Furious, Fearless Female?’ and that grabbed my attention and I thought, ‘Yep, that’s me’,” Hargrave said.

“They were asking for people to come in and do some testing and do a talent transfer.

“I was 28 when I received that email, at an age where most people would start to think about retiring, but I was so determined to wear the green and gold and just really wanted to give this a crack.”

More than a decade on, Hargrave has a swag of impressive performances under her belt, including breaking an eight-year-old record set by Anna Meares for the 500-metre time trial at the Adelaide SuperDrome.

“It was hard to convince the people making decisions that someone of my age can actually improve,” she said.

“I had to let my legs do the talking.

“[They said:] ‘OK, maybe let’s give her a shot, even though she’s 39’.”

Riding against competitors half her age

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hargrave was able to utilise the downtime from her work as a physiotherapist and repurpose a room in her home as a gym.

For 18 months, she trained at home and came out of the pandemic a stronger, fitter and faster cyclist.

“I think that’s what makes it so easy for me: I love what I do,” she said.

“And I love training, and trying for personal bests. I’m just motivated by that. I’m doing what I love.

“When I was racing one of the Aussie girls at the nationals, the commentator said: ‘Oh I’ve never said this before, but Hargrave is double the age of the rider she’s racing’.”

However, Hargrave said that, with age, came perspective.

“I would say I’m a lot more chilled. The first time I walked into a packed velodrome, the noise, the nerves, the morning of a race, I definitely couldn’t eat,” she said. “But being older helps you take a step back and, at times — like during a warm-up — just go, ‘How cool is this?'”

As the Australian team familiarises itself with the track at the Lee Valley Velodrome, Hargrave is philosophical about her journey to get there and her future on track.

“Regardless of what happens, obviously I have pressure on me to do well, I want to come home with a medal but, at the end of the day, I want to soak it all in and enjoy it because it’s what I’ve always wanted,” she said.

“I’m just proud to be there.”