Overcoming a raft of health challenges throughout her adult life, Anna Taylor has developed into a world-class Para cyclist boasting an enviable record on the international stage.
Raised in Taupo and later boarding at St Peter’s School in Cambridge, Anna later took up a rowing scholarship at Oregon State University in the USA. Overcoming thyroid cancer during her time there, she later secured medals at the US National Club Championships.
In 2016 she sustained a severe disc prolapse which compressed the spinal cord. Anna underwent emergency decompression disc surgery and obtained an Acute Cauda Equina Syndrome – which has caused a weakness in the left leg and minor weakness in the right.
Keen to find a sporting outlet she initially focused on swimming to keep active before trying her hand at Para cycling after attending a talent ID camp in early 2018.
“I loved the fact I was once again in an environment of being able to push myself and set goals as an athlete,” she recalls. “Over time I later learned to love the sport of cycling.”
Making her international debut at the 2019 Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Anna made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the C4 Women’s 3000m Individual Pursuit.
“It was a cool experience, and I had an immense amount of pride being part of the NZ Paralympic Team,” she recalls of competing at Tokyo 2020.
“Knowing I had reached that goal for something I had worked so long to achieve was very satisfying.”
Since Tokyo 2020, despite facing several health challenges, Anna has continued to excel on the global stage. At the 2022 Para-Cycling Track World Championships she claimed a pair of C4 bronze medals in the 500m Time Trial and Omnium before at the 2023 “Super Worlds” in Glasgow she achieved a career highlight with C4 Omnium gold.
“I was able to execute everything to the best of my abilities,” she says of winning Omnium gold.
At the 2024 Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Rio, Anna continued to impress, collecting a 500m Time Trial silver and a bronze medal in the Omnium.
Training ten sessions per week in Cambridge, Anna enjoyed a memorable Paris 2024. Scalping more than six seconds from her national record in qualification for the Women’s C4 3000m Individual Pursuit, clocking a time of 3:42.137 she earned a brilliant silver medal in the final.
Giving birth to son, Henry, in November 2025 she made an impressive return to international competition at the 2026 UCI Para cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn. Competing in the Women’s 1000m Time Trial C4, Anna secured a bronze medal in a time of 1:12.688.
On why she competes, Anna adds: “After I faced significant health challenges, there were moments when I made a promise to myself that if I was going to be okay, I owed it to my friends and family to be the best version of myself.”
Watch Attitude’s short documentary on Anna
Anna is a fierce advocate for athletes, and represents the athlete voice in various forums, including the PNZ Athletes’ Council and the Athlete Leaders Network.
