Be The Inspiration: Natasha Hansen

Natasha Hansen - Be the Inspiration

Every day that sprint cyclist Natasha Hansen climbs aboard her bike, she pushes herself to the limit – whether she’s in training, or attacking the biggest race of her life.

She’s dedicated to getting the very best out of herself for Rio 2016. The air traffic controller has taken time out from her job at Hamilton Airport, to train daily with the crème of New Zealand cycling talent in the national high performance centre.  

Within the world-class Avantidrome, the cyclists are able to simulate race day every day. And that hard training and attention to detail pays off for Hansen in so many ways.

“It’s a good dress rehearsal for when you have to go to a big event, and you know you have to push your body to the same extent,” she says.

“It’s just so thrilling when you’re riding around and you’re getting up to high speeds."

"I just enjoy the ability to be able to push myself in training and then be able to get a good measure of where I am against everybody else in the world.”

Rio will be Hansen’s second Olympic Games.  In London in 2012, she achieved her goals, by placing 11th in the keirin and 12th in the sprint, but had to grapple with the grief of losing her best friend and mentor to cancer during her final build-up to the Olympics.

Afterwards, she took a break from the bike – and then suffered a prolapsed disc in her spine on her return to the sport. But now she is fitter and strong, has a new perspective and a rekindled passion for riding.

Ranked fifth in the world in the women’s sprint, strength is vital for Hansen.

“To go faster, sometimes we need to push bigger gears in which case we need to have a strong body to be able to transfer that power and strength to the pedals,” she says.

Hansen will also ride in the keirin in Rio, and says it’s good motivation to know that other people are watching and willing her on when she’s racing.

“I need to be setting a good example and I try to lead from the front,” she says.

“When you step on to the world stage, and you’re representing New Zealand at a world championship level, it’s exciting knowing that you’re representing your country. And you’re not just riding for yourself, but you’re riding for what the fern stands for, and everybody else.”