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.[2] 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.[3][4]
McCulloch grew up in Gymea, New South Wales.[citation needed] 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 stepfather 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 her sporting family supported her. Each of the McCulloch siblings pursued their own sporting dreams. Her younger sister, Abbey McCulloch, is a netball player. She captained the New South Wales Swifts.[5][6][7] Kaarle and Abbey both attended Endeavour Sports High School.[8][9][10] Her younger brother Jack also rode for St George Cycling Club.[11]
Achievements
McCulloch was part of the Australian sprint team that won bronze at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[12]
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 to 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.
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