Anna is Australia’s most successful track cyclist and was Flag Bearer for the Australian Team at the Rio 2016 Games. She is the only Australian to win individual medals at four consecutive Olympic Games.

Anna made her debut at Athens in 2004 where she won gold in the 500m Time Trial and bronze in the sprint.

Four years later she won silver in the sprint at Beijing 2008, followed by sprint gold in London in 2012, where she also won bronze in the team sprint with Kaarle McCulloch before finishing her storied career with bronze in the Keirin in Rio 2016.

Anna says it’s an enormous privilege to serve athletes in the role of Chef de Mission, working with the sports and the AOC to make their job as stress free as possible.

“The athletes are the very heart of everything that is the Olympic Games,” Ms Meares said.

“Every athlete comes with a story, an ambition and a feeling of great pride in representing their country. My job is to ensure we provide the right environment for all of them as they strive for Olympic success, enjoy their experience as an Olympian, and allow all in Australia to learn about their story and connect through sport.

“A positive Team environment is such an important ingredient. There will be more than 30 different sports spread across multiple venues in Paris and we know that the feeling they are all part of the Australian Olympic Team is important to them. My job is to help bind us altogether and give them a sense of home away from home.

“My priority now is to build strong relationships with our sports leaders and our athlete leaders. There’s already been a lot of work done in that area through the AOC. I look forward to spending time catching up with athletes and get their thoughts first-hand.

“Every Olympic Games produces its challenges but there’s a very experienced team behind the Team and our job is to create a positive environment so our athletes can excel.”

AOC President Ian Chesterman, the Chef de Mission at the Tokyo Olympics, says the dual Olympic champion is a wonderful leader and understands every aspect of the high-performance environment that makes for a successful Olympic campaign.

“When you examine what she has achieved, the obstacles she has overcome and the manner of her achievement, the qualities that make a Chef de Mission are there on abundant display,” Mr Chesterman said.

“Very importantly, Anna is a leader and has a passion for serving athletes. She will be a wonderful team-builder for our Team members going to Paris. She has walked in the athletes’ shoes at four Olympic Games, winning medals of every colour and was our Team captain in Rio.

“And her comeback from a very serious injury to win a silver medal in Beijing 2008 is the stuff of legends.

“This year Anna gained valuable experience as General Manager (AOC equivalent of Deputy Chef) for Australia’s team at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. All of these things were factors in play in making this selection. Ultimately, we have selected a great Australian to lead what I’m sure will be a great Australian Team.”

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26th (Opening Ceremony) to August 11th (Closing Ceremony).

Anna Meares' Career Highlights

• Four-time Olympian – Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016
• 2 x gold, 1 x silver, 3 x bronze Olympic medals
• First Australian athlete from any sport to win a medal at four Olympic Games
• Australia’s most decorated Olympic cyclist
• Australian Olympic Team Flag Bearer at Rio 2016
• Her silver at Beijing 2008 came only seven months after she broke her neck in a racing crash
• At London 2012 she took down rival and home favourite Victoria Pendleton in the sprint in one of the iconic Australian Olympic victories
• 26 World Championship medals including 11 gold, most of any female track cyclist
• Inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2021
• Anna Meares Velodrome opened in 2016 – will host track cycling at Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games

She was inspired to take up track cycling after watching cyclist Kathy Watt at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada. Anna’s father would search for the nearest velodrome in Mackay, more than 300 km from their family home in Middlemount. After a two-year sacrifice of driving their two daughters to Mackay on a weekly basis, Meares’ parents moved to Rockhampton where Anna and her sister Kerrie would gain better access to coaches.