When Grace Brown started out as a runner, she thought that perhaps there was a chance, if all went well, that maybe she could get picked for an Olympic Games team but a switch to the bike has now delivered an even bigger dream. The 32-year-old Australian is set to walk away from a six-year career as a professional cyclist, with a cache of prestigious victories, including the ultimate prize of an Olympic gold medal.
The Paris Games had always loomed large in the Victorian's plans for her 2024 season, with clear potential to clinch a time trial medal given her fourth in Tokyo and silver medals at the last two world championships. Then in June, she raised the already high stakes further, announcing that this Olympics and this season would be her last, and concluding the retirement announcement by saying 'Let's see if I can sign off in style'.
