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 under the coaching guidance of Damian Wiseman, 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.
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.
