Springwood cyclist Amanda Spratt has secured her spot on the Australian cycling team heading to the Rio Olympics, announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking to the Gazette from Europe, the 28-year-old was over the moon.
“It is an honour and I am really just so excited,” she said.
“It’s fair to say that I will have a bit of extra energy for my next training sessions after this announcement”.
Spratt represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympics, but she feels a lot calmer about the selection process this time around, and more confident in her preparation.
“This time around I just have so much more experience, confidence and can really prepare myself well for every aspect of an Olympic Games both on and off the bike,” she said.
Spratt is in top form, securing fifth overall in the Aviva Womens Tour in the UK from June 15-19, and fourth in the hilliest third stage of the race.
That follows winning the Australian National Championships in January and then the uncertainty of whether she would still be considered for Olympic selection after being hit by a car in March rendered her incapable of competing in key races.
“It actually took a bit longer to get my top fitness back than we had anticipated, but over the last six weeks in particular I have really improved and am feeling the fittest I have ever been,” Spratt said.
She’s even had a sneak peak at the course in Rio, which has proved invaluable for implementing in her training over the past month and in the lead up to the games.
Gracie Elvin, Katrin Garfoot and Rachel Neylan were also selected to compete in the women’s road cycling events for Australia.
