Jessie Hodges

Jessie Hodges (born 19 October 1996) is a New Zealand track cyclist, Olympian and para-cycling tandem pilot. A multiple New Zealand national champion and Oceania champion, she represented New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the women's Madison. After retiring from elite track cycling, Hodges returned to international competition as the sighted pilot for New Zealand para-cyclist Emma Foy. The pair won two silver medals at the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships and two gold medals representing New Zealand at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Early life and introduction to cycling

Hodges was born in Hamilton, New Zealand, and is from the Waikato region.

Hodges competed at her first New Zealand Track Cycling Nationals in 2016. She continued to progress on the track and won silver in the women's Madison at the New Zealand Track Cycling Nationals in 2017.

Hodges also won a further New Zealand Madison title alongside Wollaston.

UCI Track Cycling World Cup

Hodges collected four UCI Track Cycling World Cup medals during her rise on the international stage.

UCI Track Nations Cup

Following her return from injury, Hodges rejoined New Zealand's international endurance track programme for the 2023 season.

At the 2023 UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup in Cairo, Egypt, Hodges was part of the New Zealand women's team pursuit squad that won the silver medal.

The Cairo result formed part of New Zealand's international qualification campaign ahead of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification period.

Hodges subsequently retired from elite track cycling before returning to high-performance competition as a tandem pilot in para-cycling.

Hodges competed in the two-rider Madison alongside Rushlee Buchanan, with the New Zealand pair finishing 11th of 15 teams.

Para-cycling career

Partnership with Emma Foy

In 2025, Hodges returned to high-performance cycling as the sighted tandem pilot for New Zealand para-cyclist Emma Foy. Foy, a six-time world champion and Paralympic medallist, was returning to para-cycling after a four-year break from the sport.

Foy and Hodges formed a new tandem partnership during 2025 and were selected to compete in the women's tandem 1 km time trial, sprint and 4 km individual pursuit at the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

They faced British Paralympic champions Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl in the final. Foy and Hodges led for much of the pursuit before the British tandem took the lead with two laps remaining and won the world title.

The championships were Foy and Hodges' first world championships as a tandem pairing. Cycling New Zealand Para lead coach Brendon Cameron highlighted the partnership's podium performances against the reigning Paralympic champions following a short preparation period.

Later that month, Foy and Hodges competed at the 2026 Oceania Track Championships. They reached the women's Para B tandem sprint final, where they were defeated in two rides by the Australian pairing of Jessica Gallagher and pilot Jacqui Mengler-Mohr.

2026 Commonwealth Games

In June 2026, Hodges was selected as Foy's pilot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Major results

Track

2017 New Zealand Track Cycling Nationals 2nd Madison

2018 New Zealand Track Cycling Nationals 1st Madison 1st Points race 1st Individual pursuit

2019 UCI Track Cycling World Cup, Cambridge (January) 3rd Scratch race New Zealand Track Cycling Nationals 1st Madison 1st Team pursuit UCI Track Cycling World Cup, Hong Kong 1st Team pursuit 2nd Madison UCI Track Cycling World Cup, Cambridge (December) 3rd Madison

2020 Oceania Track Championships 1st Team pursuit 2nd Madison 2nd Points race New Zealand Track Cycling Nationals 1st Scratch race 1st Points race 1st Omnium 1st Madison 1st Team pursuit

2021 New Zealand Track Cycling Nationals 1st Madison 2nd Omnium Olympic Games 11th Madison

2023 UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup, Cairo 2nd Team pursuit

Para-cycling

2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships 2nd Women's B 4 km individual pursuit 2nd Women's B 1 km time trial

2026 New Zealand Road Cycling Championships 1st Women's BVI tandem time trial Oceania Track Championships 2nd Women's Para B tandem sprint 2026 Commonwealth Games 1st Cycling - Track (1000m Time Trial Para-Sport B Tandem - Women)