Kaarle McCulloch - Lead into the London Olympics

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Category: Kaarle McCulloch

Matt: Congrats on being selected in the Australian Cycling team for London.

Kaarle: Thank You very much! I was really excited to be named in my first Olympic Team!

Matt: What does it mean for Kaarle McCulloch the person to be going to the Olympics?

Kaarle: When I was 12 my father took me to watch the Sydney 2000 Olympics. I have fond memories of the event, not so much on the performance side of things but more so on the enormity of it. The Olympics is not just about the athletes competing its about the world coming together to celebrate being the best that we can be. That is special to me because it’s a life motto of mine…to be the best that I can be every day.

Matt: You started late in cycling at 17 years of age, what do you believe it is about you as a person that has allowed you to have achieved so much in such a short amount of time?

Kaarle: As stated above I am not one to do anything half heartily.  Once I commit to something I am highly driven and motivated and committed to getting what I want!  That desire combined with a great work ethic some great coaching and some natural talent have helped me to get to where I am today,

Matt: Now people may not know this, but not only can you hit speeds of 76km/h on the track, single squat 110kg for 3reps but you also got at 93.8 UAI when you finished school, which side of the family did you get your strength from and your brains?

Kaarle: I definitely got my strength from my father.  He used to play Rugby League in his day and also owned a gym with my mum when I was very little.  And then my brains come from my mum who has a masters degree.  I am really lucky to have such strong influences over areas of my life that are important to me.

Matt: Do you get nervous leading into an event?

Kaarle: Yeah of course! I think the day that I am not nervous means that its doesn't mean as much to me and therefore the desire is missing.  When that day comes (if it does) will be the day I hang the bike up and at the moment I don't see that happening for a long while yet!  I have good sound strategies to help me deal with my nerves these days, sometimes in the past they would get the better of me but I know myself really well and know I can perform under high pressure situations.

Matt: Do you find it hard to switch from Kaarle the athlete to Kaarle the 24 year old girl?

Kaarle: Yeah it can be a challenge at times.  My friends often don't invite me out to nights out because they know I wont be drinking or staying out too late but I also know the importance of leading a balanced life so often if my friends go out I am Designated Driver and have a curfew so I get the best of both worlds.  In my breaks my friends get to pay me back!

Matt: What is your typical mindset during warm up?

Kaarle: I try to be as relaxed and calm as possible.  You have to be careful not to burn too much energy worrying about things while you are warming up.  I often find that talking to the people around me like my staff members while exposing myself to the environment slowly really helps to build that intensity to ensure that I am ready to go when I really need to be, not 20minutes too early!

Matt:  What is install for you from here until the London Olympics?

Kaarle: We have a training camp in Europe for our final prep and one race in Germany before we head across to London.  It gives us time to get over the jet lag, get some solid training in and expose ourselves to some competition before the big one!

Matt: First thing you pack before heading to a race?

Kaarle: Hard question!  I have such a routined bag packing scenario that doesn't have an order but as a general rule I always make sure I have gloves, booties, skin suit and gels!

Matt: If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be?

Kaarle: Ohhhh!  Good question.  Lara Croft!  I want to be able to do in the air tumbles and shoot bad guys at the same time!  How cool would that be?!

Matt: If you could play a character in any movie who would you want to be?

Kaarle: Ellie from Tomorrow when the war began series.  Loved those books and love the character Ellie.  She is so strong and real and the book whilst a very outgoing story touched me in some way with what I was dealing with as a young adolescent.

Matt: Anything you would like to say to your fans/supporters?

Kaarle: So Much!  I have so many people to thank and I know that I have many supporters out there.  Mostly I would like to say that I can't wait to represent Australia and that when I line up on the 2nd of August to ride that I feel much more confident knowing that I don't just have my legs behind me but I also have so many other people helping to push me!  So cheer loud and push hard everyone! :)