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.

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 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. 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 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.

She retired from competition 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

3rd Sprint 2015 Oceania Track Championships

2nd Sprint, Super Drome Cup Melbourne Cup on Wheels 3rd Keirin 3rd Sprint 2016 Oceania Track Championships

ITS Melbourne DISC Grand Prix 2nd Keirin 3rd Sprint 3rd Sprint, ITS Melbourne Grand Prix 2017 Oceania Track Championships

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