Olympic cyclist, Grace Brown winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics has raised wonderful memories for Kathy Watt OAM (Wyvern 1983) whose name was stamped on the sport at the 1992 Barcelona Games. As Australia’s first female to win gold in a cycling event, and the first Australian cyclist, male or female to win the road race, Kathy earned Dawn Fraser’s description at the time as ‘the most focussed athlete at the Games.’ 

“I know how the athletes are feeling, after all the training they’ve done along the way, now is the time to really focus. Sometimes the top 10 will be equal physiologically but it comes down to the mental game and strategy. You have to plan every day you are there. Road cycling is like chess on wheels, you have to outsmart people, know their strengths and weaknesses, and know when to use your energy.” 

In 1992, her mantra of ‘no nerves, no hope,’ passed on by Australian cycling legend, Graeme Gilmore set her up to succeed in the road race, and gain silver in the 3km individual pursuit. 

“When you’re nervous that’s a really good mantra because if you are not worried about it, you’re not putting in, you need to harness those butterflies. The mind is interesting at the Olympics because people get so nervous, I was super nervous before the Games but I had a plan: I’m going to be in bed at 10pm every night, eat well, and not run around getting autographs. I don’t think the Games have changed for the athletes, it really comes down to the basics of preparation, relationship with your coach, a positive mindset, action plans, and using the races before to strengthen yourself psychologically.” 

Having studied a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University, majoring in physiology, psychology, nutrition, pathology and anatomy, Kathy had already been strong in two sports- cross country skiing and athletics before taking up cycling only five years prior to her gold medal performance. Her change of sport was a stroke of luck. 

“At uni I rode my bike everywhere just for transport, but it wasn’t until I had an achilles’ tendon injury that I called into a bike shop and Damian Grundy said, ‘I’m training some young guy called Cadel at the Kew Boulevard, you should come up’. Damian, became a four-time Olympic coach and was Cadel (Evans) and my first coach.”

Coming from Warragul, Kathy loved her time in Queen’s and Queen’s certainly enjoyed Kathy’s sporting prowess. 

“I thought it was great. I was super fit from running and cross-country skiing, and all the sports we did at Queen’s. Because it was one of the four major Colleges, I think I did every sport. Queen’s had everything, sport, drama, music, great people, and you could mix with students from all different years and courses. I met some amazing people you wouldn’t meet if you were just living at home. It changed my whole university experience.” 

Kathy’s gold medal is tucked away in a safe place, but her win is close to her heart. 

“Out of all the events I’ve ever competed in, this is the pinnacle. It took a little while for it to sink in. You know when you’ve won but then I realised I had achieved what I had wanted to since childhood.”