Sport: Cycling
Birth Date: July 13, 1980
Birth Place: Edmonton, Alberta
Residence: Los Angeles, California

Tara’s introduction to elite sports began many years ago with cross-country skiing in which she competed in for many years before making the full transition to cycling at 28 years old. Tara’s previous athletic experiences allowed her to improve quickly and gain confidence on the track. In 2008, her first season, she won the points race and individual pursuit at the Canadian National Track Championships, and also took the bronze medal in the scratch race and 500 metre time trial event.

Having accumulated multiple medals and world titles on the international stage Tara is now Canada’s leading female in the sport. She holds, along with fellow Canadian National Team members Laura Brown and Stephanie Roorda, the Canadian National Record in women’s team pursuit. Tara is also the Canadian National Record holder for the individual pursuit.

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, Tara won four medals: gold in the road time trial and bronze in three other events in track cycling - team sprint, individual pursuit and the points race. Her performance at the Commonwealth Games won her the chance to be Canada’s flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony, an experience she says she will never forget. .

Her sights are now set on the London 2012 Olympic Games and she’s hoping to compete in multiple events: in individual pursuit, in the points race, but also in the omnium and team pursuit which will make their first Olympic debut in 2012.

Off the road, Tara is also a student at the University of Edmonton, completing a Ph.D in neuroscience.

Major Athletic Accomplishments

• 2011 Track World Championships Gold (omnium)
• 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester (GB) – gold in omnium
• 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Melbourne (AUS) – silver in omnium
• 2010 Track World Championships Gold (omnium and points race)
• 2010 Commonwealth Games – gold in road time trial and 3 bronze in track: team sprint, individual pursuit and points race
• 2009 Track World Championships Silver (omnium)