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2006 Commonwealth Games - JR
Melbourne, Australia, March 16-26, 2006
March 16: Women’s 500m time trial
Anna Meares back on top
By Mal Sawford with additional reporting by Rob Jones
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World record holder and Olympic champion Anna Meares, the final starter in the 500 metre time trial, had to overcome the personal best time and Commonwealth record set by Victoria Pendleton (England) only moments earlier to take Australia's first gold medal of the Commonwealth Games.
Meares is no stranger to pressure, having needing a world record to win at the Olympics, but admitted after tonight's ride that she was briefly stunned by Pendleton's time. "I can't really repeat what I thought. 'Oh gosh' might be a nice way of putting it! I saw 34.6 come up on the board and was straight back looking at the ground thinking you're here, you do your own race, don't worry about the time."
The younger of the two Meares sisters was up to the challenge, stopping the clock in 34.326 to take the win. Kerrie Meares finished with the bronze medal to ensure both sisters had something to show their parents: Marilyn and Tony Meares had never seen their girls race in a major competition before. "My parents were crying after the finish. Having them here was so important. It's the second fastest time I've ever done, so I'm pretty pleased with it. My back seems to be fixed. I felt strong all the way."
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Reigning world sprint champion Pendleton was extremely pleased with her ride which "was my personal best by two tenths of a second. I got beaten by Anna, and I couldn't have gone any faster. She's the world record holder and Olympic champion - of course she's fast! It's the closest I've ever been to her in competition, and I'm not really a 500 metre specialist." Kerrie Meares was pleased to get a solid ride in, to be able to prove "I'm over my injuries, and I'm feeling really good. It gives me confidence for the sprint competition."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP Photo
- Anna Meares (Australia) during her winning ride
- Anna Meares (Australia) celebrates her gold medal
- Victoria Pendleton (England) on the way to silver
- Kerrie Meares (Australia) made it two podium places for Australia and the Meares clan!
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- Kerrie Meares awaits the start to her ride against the clock in the 500m time trial
- Kerrie Meares takes a breath at the gates before riding to a bronze medal
- Kerrie Meares gives it her all in the finishing straight of the women's 500m time trial
- Victoria Pendelton from Great Britain in her pursuit of a medal in the women's 500m time trial
- Anna Meares drives to the line to victory and an Aussie gold medal in the women's 500m time trial
- See, I told you so… another gold medal to Australian Anna Meares
- Gold medalist Anna Meares grabs an Australian flag of her parents after riding to victory in the women's 500m time trial in Melbourne
- This one's for you mum and dad… Gold medalist Anna Meares points to her mum and dad who were watching her for the first time at International level
- The Meares sisters, Anna (L) and Kerrie celebrate their Commonwealth Games medals with family after the presentation
Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com
- Kerrie Meares (Australia) on the way to the bronze medal
- Elizabeth Williams (New Zealand) took fifth place
- Victoria Pendleton (England) grabbed silver
- Victoria Pendleton (England) - the silver medalist
- Anna Meares (Australia) set a new Games record
- Anna Meares (Australia) - a Commonwealth gold medal to go with her Olympic gold.
- A very happy Anna Meares
- The Meares sisters congratulate each other
- The Meares sisters salute their parents
Results
1 Anna Meares (Australia) 34.326 (52.438 km/h) *Games Record 2 Victoria Pendleton (England) 34.662 3 Kerrie Meares (Australia) 35.210 4 Fiona Carswell (New Zealand) 35.635 5 Elizabeth Williams (New Zealand) 36.104
