Watts Occurring What does it take to win Olympic Gold? Emma Finucane knows | Watts Occurring Femmes
Jul 31, 2025
Emma Finucane, a three-time Olympic medallist and world champion cyclist, shares her incredible journey as a track sprinter. She delves into the mental toughness required to face the pressures of competition and the personal anecdotes of her early days on two wheels. Emma discusses the challenges of being away from home for training, the thrill of Olympic dreams, and balancing success with life outside of sports. Her insights into what it takes to win gold and the joy of cycling create an engaging and inspiring conversation.
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Early Track Cycling Days
- Emma Finucane began track cycling as a child at Towy Riders club, learning to ride fixed gear bikes without brakes.
- She had no fear and quickly loved the speed and camaraderie on the Carmarthen velodrome.
Discovering Sprint Specialization Late
- Early cycling development often lacks clarity between sprint and endurance disciplines; youth typically compete across all events.
- Realizing a specialization in sprinting may come only after competing broadly in youth categories.
Commit to Your Cycling Discipline
- Commit fully to your chosen cycling discipline, as balancing sprint and road is impractical.
- Accept that sprint training requires significant gym work, which may not initially be enjoyable but is necessary.