Anna Morris never imagined she would become a cycling champion. Growing up in Cardiff, Wales, the 29-year-old doctor hadn’t owned a road bike until she was nearly 20 and had never set foot in a velodrome. Just three years ago, she was watching the Tokyo Olympics from the hospital where she worked. Now, Morris is a three-time world champion and an Olympic medallist.
At the recent World Track Championships in Denmark, Morris added two more gold medals to her achievements. Competing in the team pursuit, she helped secure the title, matching the squad’s success from 2023. She then claimed her first-ever individual pursuit gold — a victory that stunned even herself.
“I haven’t even won Nationals,” Morris shared with BBC Sport Wales. “I was in shock when I crossed the line, and I’m still feeling a bit shocked now.”
Growing up in north Cardiff, just minutes from Maindy Velodrome — the same track that launched the careers of renowned cyclists like Geraint Thomas and Elinor Barker — Morris initially pursued gymnastics, often training three hours after school. Her early experiences with cycling were limited to small personal challenges, such as biking up the hill to the supermarket, yet her determination was already evident.
While studying medicine at the University of Southampton, Morris attended spin classes for fitness until, in her second year, she had the chance to attend track sessions at Calshot Velodrome. Her interest in the sport took off from there, culminating in her first competition at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) championships. This success led to support from Welsh Cycling, and she began training in the limited time she could spare from her medical career.
“If I could train, I would do it,” Morris recalls, noting that her schedule involved an hour on a turbo trainer in the evenings and a longer ride on weekends, with no more than eight hours of training per week due to work constraints. During annual leave, she would book week-long cycling sessions, often in Majorca or back home in Wales.
In 2021, with the Tokyo Olympics approaching, Morris decided to take a break from her medical career, aiming for a spot at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. “Going full time made a huge difference, particularly in terms of recovery,” she explained. “You could control the times you were able to eat, sleep, and train.”
After medaling in all three endurance events at the 2022 Nationals, Morris secured her place at the Commonwealth Games. “The Commonwealth Games was another level,” she said. “The crowd’s roar was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.”
Welsh Cycling’s support was essential in helping her bridge the gap to international competition. “Without the platform Welsh Cycling provided, gaining international racing experience and advanced coaching would have been very difficult,” she acknowledged. The Great Britain team took notice, inviting her to the European Championships in August 2022 and offering her a full-time contract shortly afterward. With this, her medical career took a back seat — a status that continues today.
Morris joined the women’s team pursuit squad and contributed to their world title in Glasgow in 2023. This year, she made her Olympic debut in Paris, winning bronze in the team pursuit. Following this, she earned her second world title in the team pursuit, before achieving her first major individual victory by defeating four-time world champion Chloe Dygert in a gripping finish, passing her in the final laps.
“I never imagined being world individual pursuit champion,” Morris admitted. “I went into the individual pursuit focused on giving my best, but I didn’t expect to win. Chloe Dygert is phenomenal.” Her hard work paid off, and she won by a margin of just over three-tenths of a second.
Following her victory, Sir Chris Hoy praised Morris’ aerodynamic form as “textbook.” For Morris, however, her success stems from dedicated, consistent training. She credits both her medical and cycling careers with building her resilience, teamwork, and performance under pressure — skills she draws upon in each.
Though her cycling career has temporarily paused her work as a doctor, Morris plans to return to medicine in the future. For now, she remains focused on exploring her cycling potential.
“There are no guarantees in sport,” Morris reflected. “But at the moment, the opportunities are still there. So I’m keen to keep exploring.”
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