# Kaarle McCulloch

Kaarle McCulloch (born 20 January 1988) is an Australian former professional track cyclist and four time World Champion in the team sprint. She also won three golds at the Commonwealth Games and an Olympic bronze medal. She qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and rode in two events, the Women's Keirin where she came ninth, and the Women's Sprint where she came thirteenth.

## Early years

McCulloch grew up in Gymea New South Wales. She was a promising middle-distance runner and won middle-distance championships in the 400 metres and 800 metres events when she was 14,15 and 16.
When she was 17 her motivation in track and field waned and she turned to cycling to reinvigorate her Olympic dream. Her step-father Ken Bates introduced her to track cycling. She rose through the ranks quickly eventually competing at the UCI Junior Track World Championships.
McCulloch honed her cycling skills at the St George Cycling Club where she was supported by her sporting family. Each of the McCulloch siblings pursued their own sporting dreams. Her younger sister, Abbey McCulloch, is a netball player. She captained New South Wales Swifts. Kaarle and Abbey both attended Endeavour Sports High School. Her younger brother Jack also rode for St George Cycling Club.

## Achievements

McCulloch was part of the Australian sprint team that won bronze at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games she won a gold medal in the Team sprint and a silver medal in the 500m Time Trial.
McCulloch took a break from cycling following the London Olympics due a knee injury, missing the 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2016 she missed selection for the Rio Olympics due to a contentious decision to send former teammate Anna Meares.
McCulloch returned for the 2018 Commonwealth Games winning Gold in the 500m Time Trial and Team Sprint and Silver in the Keiran and Bronze in the Sprint.
She retired from competition in November 2021.
She has a university degree in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) teaching.
In February 2022 she was appointed as Podium Women’s Sprint Coach for the Great Britain Cycling Team, replacing Jan van Eijden, who left the role in November 2021.

## Palmarès
### 2006

    Australian National Track Championships – Juniors
       1st 500m Time Trial
       1st Sprint
       3rd Keirin
    2nd Team Sprint, Australian National Track Championships, Adelaide – Elite
    3rd Track World Championships, Ghent – Juniors
    Oceania Games
       3rd 500m Time Trial
       3rd Sprint, Oceania Games

### 2007

    2nd Team Sprint, World Cup, Los Angeles
    Australian National Track Championships
       3rd 500m Time Trial
       2nd Team Sprint
    Oceania Cycling Championships
       3rd Sprint
       1st Keirin
       1st Team Sprint
    1st 500m Time Trial, European Championship
    2nd Team Sprint, World Cup Sydney

### 2008

    3rd Team Sprint, World Cup, Los Angeles

### 2009

    1st Team Sprint (with Anna Meares), 2009–2010 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics, Manchester
    1st Team sprint, 2008–09 UCI Track Cycling World Ranking

### 2010

    1st Team Sprint, Track World Championships
    Commonwealth Games
       1st Team Sprint
       2nd 500m Time Trial

### 2011

    1st Team Sprint (with Anna Meares), UCI Track World Championships

### 2012

    3rd Team Sprint, Olympic Games
    2nd Team Sprint (with Anna Meares), UCI Track World Championships

### 2013

    2nd Sprint, Invercargill

### 2014

    Oceania Track Championships
       1st Team Sprint (with Stephanie Morton)
       3rd Sprint

### 2015

    Oceania Track Championships
       1st Sprint
       1st 500m Time Trial
    2nd Sprint, Super Drome Cup
    Melbourne Cup on Wheels
       3rd Keirin
       3rd Sprint

### 2016

    Oceania Track Championships
       1st Sprint
       1st 500m time trial
    ITS Melbourne DISC Grand Prix
       2nd Keirin
       3rd Sprint
    3rd Sprint, ITS Melbourne Grand Prix

### 2017

    Oceania Track Championships
       1st Team Sprint (with Stephanie Morton)
       2nd Sprint
    2nd Team Sprint, UCI World Track Championships (with Stephanie Morton)
    US Sprint GP
       2nd Keirin
       3rd Sprint
    2nd Sprint, ITS Melbourne – DISC Grand Prix
    ITS Melbourne – Hisense Grand Prix
       2nd Sprint
       2nd Keirin
    Austral
       3rd Keirin
       3rd Sprint
    3rd Keirin, Fastest Man on Wheels
    3rd Sprint, Keirin Cup / Madison Cup

### 2018

    Commonwealth Games
       1st Team Sprint (with Stephanie Morton)
       1st 500m Time Trial
       2nd Keirin
       3rd Sprint