LIVE CHAT: Retired champion cyclist Sara Carrigan will be in the Bulletin office from 10am to answer your Comm Games questions
GOLD Coast girl Sara Carrigan has lived and breathed cycling and sport since she was young.
The retired Olympic and Commonwealth Games cyclist stepped away from the sport in 2008, but has been very active behind the scenes.
She is an important part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Sport and Technical Committee and will be in the Bulletin office from 10am today to answer your Comm Games questions.
Morning everyone, I am Sara Carrigan OAM and am excited to be in the office of the Gold Coast Bulletin to chat! There are many exciting things to talk about …Commonwealth Games Glasgow and the handover to the Gold Coast for 2018 and anything cycling! 🙂 Here from you soon!
Hi Sarah, how do you think the Comm Games rates compared to Olympics for our athletes?
Hi Rex, thanks for your question! The Commonwealth Games is a more ‘friendly’ event with a smaller number of sports participating. Although there are 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, 71 teams participate in the Comm Games. For me my first Comm Games was in 2002 in Manchester and is what a perfect way to prepare me for the step up to the Olympics in 2004. 🙂
Sara – your Olympic gold is one of my favourite sporting moments! I’ve been having this argument with a mate – who is Australia’s best cyclist? I have always said Anna Meares (tough as) but my friend Maria rates Cadel as our best. What are your thoughts?
hmmm… good question! Track Vs Road! My heart lays with road cycling but I did do track when i was younger and Anna I did our first nationals together in 1997 in Tasmania! Anna is certainly one of our best simply because of her consistency over such a long period of time! Cadel did however swap from Mountain Bike to Road and this is no small ask!
Hello, which Aussie athlete do you think is our best gold medal hope in the Comm Games?
I am going to go with a few of our Gold Coast athletes as favs… Emma Moffatt(triathlon), Sally Pearson (athletics), Cam McEvoy (swimming) … and in terms of cycling would def have to say Anna Meares!
Sara, do you reckon the GC will embrace the Comm Games? There’s a lot of debate about whether it’s worth the money.
I have been so amazed and excited at how we have already embraced the Games here on the Coast… something that will remain with me forever is that moment when our Gold Coast City was announced as the host for 2018. I was in St Kitts & Nevis as part of the bid team and seeing the number of our Gold Coasters at the Broadwater Parklands was just awe inspiring! It will inspire young kids, and for our community we will have a lasting legacy of facilities to enjoy and raise more future champions!
Hello our Sara! We’ll all be watching from Gunnedah. How big has your role been in the build-up and how big will it be in the build-up to the next one??
Gunnedah.. hello!!! I wont be heading to Glasgow but will be watching and cheering on from here! As far as my role, I am on the Sport & Technical Committee of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and get involved with many other events and involved the community with what is happening 🙂
Sara, after cycling what is your favourite sport to watch at the Commonwealth Games.
I have been to see many different sports…. I love watching the weight lifting (keep an eye out for Tegan Napper) and I actually cried at the table tennis in Beijing. Triathlon is a fav as is track cycling 🙂
Hi Sara, I hear you are on the Gold Coast 2018 Comm Games committee, how involved will you be in the planning? What do you think could be a good mascot for the GC games?
yes i am on the Sport & Technical Committee and it is great that I can pass on much knowledge of the Athete’s Village and various event characteristics to ensure it fits the athletes to allow them to compete at their best! AS for a mascot….. hmmm something that really depicts the Gold Coast, what do you guys reckon?
I personally think the Commonwealth Games are terrific – what do you say to people who say well, they’re not the Olympics!
The Com Games provides a platform for many athletes to take the next step in their sporting career. For the GC, our city will shine on the world sporting stage and the promotional exposure for business, trade, investment, tourism and events will herald a new era in the region’s growth and maturity. I lived overseas for many years and know one ever knew of the Goldie, but they will now 🙂
Hi Sara! What does a world champion have for breakfast?
for breaky….. that depends! definitely something that will fuel the body for the activity that is about to be undertaken! 🙂
Hi Sara, I would love to get an insight into any tips you may have for the average joes out there like me just trying to get the best out of themselves in whatever sport they play? Mental or physical tips or any advice would help. Cheers Roger.
Thanks Roger. I big tip would be recovery! I see so many people get so excited when they get involved in different sports and they almost burn themselves out! So it is ensuring you schedule recovery days where you give your a body a rest (that means no exercise!) because it is in the recovery that the body can rejuvenate, adapt, improve, evolve and make the most of all the other hard days of training you have put in. Another tip would be to set some goals as this gives you purpose as to why you are out there slogging your guts out… and helps you make those tough decisions and dig a little deeper. I hope that helps! 🙂
Sara. Cycling is becoming a huge hobby in Australia. I find most cyclists to be good on our roads but are some spoiling their reputation. Why do some have to ride side-by-side and take up twice as much space on the road?
Thanks George, as in anything there are people who try to do the right thing and there are people who break the rules. I feel so sad when we tar people with the same brush because on the whole most people want to do the right thing on bike because they want to be safe! in regards to riding side-by-side, the simple answer is that it is more social. The4 rules say that riders can ride 2-abreast but of course it courtesy to single out where there is less space or not as safe. People ride for a number of different reasons, to feel connected, to meet others, to feel free & alive, to feel a challenge. 🙂
Thank you so much everyone for your questions this morning! I hope you all enjoy watching the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the handover to the Gold Coast for lots of excitement to come! Be happy and enjoy a wonderful day!
Thanks for being involved in our live chat with Sara Carrigan this morning, we will continue to bring you live chat events throughout the Commonwealth Games with athletes, Gold Coast business leaders on the ground in Glasgow and 2018 Comm Games organisers.
Thanks Sara! Appreciate that!
