"You're only as good as you are on your worst day... be better than your opponent on that day."

It's a fitting quote shared by Australia's most successful track cyclist Anna Meares from her childhood coach Reg Tucker.

This Australian cycling great is one well-qualified Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team in Paris 2024.

An Olympic rookie in 2004, who completely rehabilitated herself after THAT crash in 2008, then used her famous rivalry with English cyclist Victoria Pendleton to spur her on to success at London 2012, Anna proudly led her fellow athletes as flag bearer in Rio 2016.

The Olympic and Commonwealth gold medallist credits what she learned about vulnerability in her personal life as parent and foster parent, and partner, with helping her round out her mindset.

In this candid chat with three-time Olympian, Australian water polo player and En Route to Paris host Rowie Webster, Anna pulls back the curtain to speak about vulnerability, the pressures of sport, fear of failure and what kind of surprises might be in store in Paris.

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