Olympian Visit

OLYMPIAN VISIT - Kristina Clonan (Track Cycling - Paris 2024)

On Thursday, 31st July, St. Joseph’s School were privileged to have Olympian Kristina Clonan come to visit and speak to the students from Years 3-6.  Kristina has competed in a number of Commonwealth Games and won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 500m time trial and competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Kristina, spoke to the students about her cycling career but more importantly about finding balance in life, focusing on the important things in life, being resilient, showing grit and determination, the importance of training and learning, being loyal and supportive of friends. 

She encouraged them to look to getting involved in Youth 2032 and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Kristina herself had to show resilience as she transitioned from endurance cycling events to a sprint cyclist.  Kristina’s advice to young athletes is “Learn to enjoy the process.  The highs are highs, and the lows are lows, but if you enjoy the sport, the training partners and the environment, you’ll see through the lows. “  

Part of Kristina’s Story:

When she missed out on selection for the endurance team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the Tokyo Olympics, track cyclist Kristina Clonan decided a change was required. 

Kristina transitioned from the Australian Cycling Team’s endurance program to reinvent herself as a world-class track sprinter. 

And the switch paid off handsomely in 2022 when she won gold in the 500m time trial at the Commonwealth Games.  Kristina upstaged Canada’s Olympic  Champion Kelsey Mitchell with a stunning ride, setting a new Commonwealth Games record of 33.234 seconds - a record previously held by Australian cycling great Anna Meares.  

In 2024, Kristina finally got her chance to compete at an Olympics after missing Tokyo.  Competing in Paris in the women’s kerin and sprint, she finished 16th and 11th respectively.