Joanna Rowsell Shand's Advice for Cyclists at Every Level
No one was born with two gold medals around their neck - Rowsell Shand has experienced every stage
Joanna Rowsell is one of the most recognisable faces from the Great Britain Cycling Team that had such a successful time at the London Olympics 2012. She was part of the Women’s Team Pursuit, along with Dani King and Laura Trott, that set consecutive world records on their way to claiming the gold medal. She was subsequently awarded the MBE for services to cycling in the New Year’s Honours List 2013.
While Joanna is best known for her team pursuit success – as well as the Olympic win, she has golds from the World Championships in 2008, 2009 and 2012 – she has also enjoyed individual success. She has picked up a number of medals in Individual Pursuit throughout her career, including a gold from the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in 2012 and is the most recent winner of the British National Time Trial Championships.
She was born in Sutton in December 1988 and started cycling in 2004 when scouts from the British Cycling Talent Team came to her school. She went along “to see what it was all about” and was surprised when her test results proved to be outstanding. Since the age of 10, Joanna has suffered with hair loss resulting from Alopecia.
While Joanna’s record clearly points to her strengths as a track pursuit specialist, she also competes in a number of road races and enjoys local and national success at 10 and 25 mile time trials.
