Paralympian #225 Anna Taylor claimed a heartwarming silver medal in the Women’s C4 3000m Individual Pursuit at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Here the 33-year-old Cambridge-based Para cyclist chats about the influential people in her world who helped her climb the podium in the French capital.
During the course of an interview spanning more than 50 minutes, Anna slowly and deliberately reeled off a list of names who have played their part in her extraordinary life journey.
Raised in Taupō, the former competitive swimmer later switched to rowing where Anna was good enough to win a scholarship to attend Oregon State University in her new chosen sport. Yet at the age of 19 she was to face the first major health battle of her life when diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Despite getting “very sick” she made a full recovery only to later sustain a serious spinal cord injury known as cauda equina syndrome which triggered her journey into disability. In 2018 after attending a talent ID camp Anna took up Para cycling.
Throughout her rollercoaster life journey her mum, Raewyn, and dad, Kevin have been a “rock” of support without whom Anna says she would not have climbed the podium in Paris.
“My parents have been my steadfast champions throughout my life, right from the early days of running around our lifestyle block and trying to keep me entertained through my swimming days taking me to practice early each morning. Later they continued to support my endeavours at boarding school and my crazy dreams and aspirations in rowing.”
Yet Anna becomes visibly emotional when talking about her parents after she became sick in the US in her late teens. Knowing they were on the other side of the world when hearing the news was very tough for them and she adds: “I knew they always had my back. They’ve always encouraged me to keep dreaming and believing in myself even through some dark and challenging times. I’ll always be grateful to my mum for coming over to the US when I had surgery (during the thyroid cancer).”
Anna also makes special mention of her four siblings – Erin, Dave, Pete and Claire – for their collective “camaraderie and closeness” and consistent support. Spending lots of time riding bikes around the paddock as kids she believes her sporting future was forged during her formative years with her brothers and sisters.
“We were very competitive, and that competitive spirit is a lot to do with the sparring we did as kids across many different sports.” She also pays special tribute to her wider family including aunts and uncles and cousins and pays special tribute to aunt Bev – who supported her mum in travelling out to the US while she underwent cancer surgery while her dad was posted in Afghanistan.
Her sporting journey began at the Taupō Swimming Club under the coaching of Pete McCullum. Anna started competitive swimming at the age of eight and fondly recalls her time at the club for lighting the spark in her to one day become an elite athlete.
“This was my first exposure as being part of a team and as part of a performance environment,” she says. “I liked the structure and discipline of training, I had such a positive experience. Those early days of being a competitive athlete was such an important part of my high performance journey.”
Later moving to St Peter’s School in Cambridge she was inspired by so many teachers and support staff with her basketball coach, Leanne Walker, offering great encouragement but also inspirational qualities.
“What most resonated was an ability to be a great mother, teacher, basketball player and coach,” she explains. “I idolised everything about her and I too wanted to be that all-rounder.”
While basketball was one sporting passion, she admits that her time at St Peter’s was where she fell “in love” with rowing. Coached by Norm and Janey Charlton she also forged a close bond with her coxed fours crew – all of whom to this day are among her best friends.
“Those days of getting up deliriously early but working together towards that smooth feeling on the boat I hold dearly to my heart,” she explains. “Those years rowing at St Peter’s were some of the hardest times but also the most fun times of my life. After swimming I missed water and rowing was a good sport to fill that gap. I thank my crewmates and my coaches for instilling a passion for sport and making me strive to be the best version of myself each day.”
Later moving to Oregon State University she endured a rollercoaster five years in the US beating cancer and sustaining a disability during her time there. Given massive support from her room-mates Ashley and Ellen – “integral parts of me as a person and an athlete” as well as the wider OSU Beaver family – including coaches Emily and Vita – she owes so much to so many during her time in the city of Corvallis.
“There will always be a place in my heart for the people that supported me during those years,” she explains. “Showing up at campus as a bright-eyed freshman and then getting sick was a really scary time. Words cannot say how grateful I am to the rowing team and how they wrapped themselves around me and supported me through some really tough times.”
It was during her time back in New Zealand when she was first introduced to Para sport by rower Jess Stewart. “Jess opened my eyes up to a world I wasn’t aware of and I’m really grateful that she believed in me when I couldn’t see a way forward for an active life, let alone a sporting one.”
Following “positive interactions” with Paralympics NZ on her return to New Zealand she later gravitated towards Para cycling and came under the coaching guidance of Laura Thompson. It was a fruitful coach-athlete relationship, with Anna saying: “Laura knew I wanted to be a competitive athlete, but she was working with an athlete whose body limitations presented its challenges.
“I got frustrated at times but she showed so much care, patience and understanding which was awesome.”
Anna believes her journey to the Paris 2024 podium would also not have been possible without the input of her current coach, Damian Wiseman. Thriving under his expertise and care she insists he has multiple qualities as a coach.
“He is intelligent, a great problem solver and he cares for me both as a person and as an athlete. I thank him for all the time and energy he has put into me to be a champion cyclist.”
Anna also praises the role the HPSNZ support staff – Laura, Katie, Christina, Daniella, Dr Deb and Dr Katie have played in allowing her to become the best version of herself while she praises the wider cycling community in being so welcoming and also praises her track training squad at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome in Cambridge.
“My team-mates have created such a welcoming environment led by Sarah (Ellington) and Nicole (Murray),” she says. “We’ve been on a few trips together and I will always cherish the memory of travelling together. We always have a good time. I am grateful for all you girls do.”
Anna also acknowledges Cycling NZ and for their role in bringing in their squad to train with the elite non-disabled women’s sprint squad twice a week.
“It has been such a blessing to see how hard the team work, to go so hard and fast, Ellesse, Liv, Shanne and Rebecca, you really inspire me.”
Away from the track, Anna can count on the love and support of her partner, Frans. While life as an elite sportsperson can be both physically and mentally challenging, he is always fighting her corner in the good times and the bad.
“You are my number one cheerleader,” she says. “You always support me as I continue to strive for greatness.”
Yet her final thank you goes out to the countless doctors, nurses and medical staff who have helped and supported her through her various health challenges.
“I need to thank them for the support they have given me to keep me healthy. I would not be the athlete I am today without the care of such great medical professionals. I remember feeling sad and alone in hospital after my spinal injury. But a nurse washed and brushed my hair and then braided it, it was such a heartwarming thing to do. It felt so nice to be taken care of.”
Image: Getty Images
