Speeding around the velodrome, straight to success

Keira Will started cycle racing when she was four years old, and she’s only looking back to see where her opponents are.

Keira Will from Concord warming-down on the velodrome. She is the Inner West Courier’s latest Local Sports Star nominee.

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Fourteen-year-old Keira Will hopped on her first bike when she was just two-years-old.

From a balance bike, she very quickly progressed onto a regular bike. The training wheels never came off, because they never went on.

When Keira started cycle racing, she was just four years old.

The Concord local was a natural according to her mother, who has gone on to win three gold and two bronze at the National Junior Track Cycling Championships in Brisbane earlier this year. She raced as part of the Under 15 NSW women’s team.

She also won the Champion of Champions jersey, which Keira names as her greatest achievement.

She has now been nominated for the Inner West Courier Junior Sports Star award.

With the track racing season over, which is fast, veledrone-style cycling, road racing begins, which tests endurance.

Both Keira’s parents are avid recreational cyclists. She even became a ‘hereditary’ member of the Lidcombe-Auburn Cycle Club.

Keira races or trains for one to two hours, six times per week, and she said this level of dedication is not always easy.

Keira Will won three gold and two bronze at the National Junior Track Cycling Championships earlier this year.

“(It’s challenging) getting up early and missing other activities because I have to get to training.”

“I don’t have much free time. I can’t afford to procrastinate about school work … I’ve also missed things like my school camp and friends’ parties.”

The sport itself can also be mentally as well as physically draining.

“(It can be hard) picking myself up mentally after a bad race or carnival, and having to motivate myself to keep training and working towards my goal.

Keira enjoys the practicality of the sport.

“If you put in the hard work and dedication, you can get better,” she said.

“I enjoy the tactics and race plans, not just the physical side of racing.”

Keira’s ultimate goal is to make it to the Olympics, and she’s been able to meet many of her Olympic heroes.

She rode with Macey Stewart and was presented with a medal by Anna Meares.

Anna told her to work hard for what you want and Keira said she holds that advice dear.

Like her heroes, Keira also wants to encourage other junior girls to take up cycling “because there aren’t enough of us”.

The Local Sports Stars Awards are open to athletes 18 and under in Junior, Individual, Inspiration and Team of Excellence categories. There is also an all-ages Service to Sport category.

For details or to nominate someone you know, go to: localsportsstars.com.au