Emily Petricola

In 2007, following the sudden onset of numbness throughout her body, Emily Petricola was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She was 27. Subsequent and frequent MS attacks severely impacted her ability to function as she had before. Further debilitating symptoms – including extreme fatigue, temporary loss of sight, foot drop, pain, tremors, tingling and numbness through her body – rendered basic tasks incredibly challenging.

Having been involved in sport before the onset of MS and encouraged by her network of supporters, Emily remained determined to participate in physical activity. In 2015, her friend and colleague, two-time Olympic rower Matt Ryan, offered to oversee her training along with another good friend, five-time Olympic cyclist Shane Kelly, and emboldened Emily to dream big. The seed of the Tokyo Paralympic dream was sown!

Three years later Emily made her national team debut at the Track World Championships, winning a silver and a bronze medal. Since then, she has captured a remarkable 10 track world championship gold medals, including five straight C4 individual pursuit titles. 

But it was her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 where Emily sealed herself as one of Australian cycling’s most powerful performers. With a blistering time of 3:38.061 in the qualifying round of the women’s 3000m individual pursuit C4, she beat her previous world record before going on to win the gold medal. She then added silver in the women’s road time trial C4.

Emily’s passage to Paris 2024 was plagued by injury and complications from her condition. Yet, showing amazing resilience, she made it consecutive gold medals in the 3000m individual pursuit, clocking a world record time of 3:35.856.