Michael John McRedmond (born 1958) is a New Zealand cycling coach and former racing cyclist who won a silver medal competing for his country at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael John McRedmond | ||||||||||||||
| Born | 1958 (age 65–66) Dannevirke, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Cycling | ||||||||||||||
| Event | Sprint | ||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Max Vertongen[2] | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
editBorn in Dannevirke in 1958,[1] McRedmond grew up in Palmerston North and was educated at St Peter's College.[2]
Cycling
editRider
editMcRedmond began competitive cycling after seeing the Tour of Manawatu cycle race, which had the finish of its final stage close to his family home.[2] Without a natural talent for the sport, McRedmond says that he succeeded through hard work and perseverance:
I wasn't a great cyclist, but with training, hard work, determination and resilience I gradually got better. My philosophy is to be the best I can be so to achieve success I had to apply myself.[2]
McRedmond represented New Zealand in the men's 1000 metres sprint at the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games.[1] At the 1982 games in Brisbane, he advanced unbeaten to the final, where he lost 0–2 to the defending champion, Kenrick Tucker from Australia, and so won the silver medal.[3] Four years later, in Edinburgh, McRedmond placed sixth in the same event.[4]
Domestically, McRedmond won the New Zealand national sprint title five times, and the national 15 kilometres scratch race title on three occasions. He later won a national Masters 80 kilometres road race championship.[2]
Coach
editAfter retiring from competitive cycling in 1986, McRedmond began coaching young cyclists in the 1990s.[5] In about 2000, he started unpaid coaching at Palmerston North Boys' High School,[5] where his protégés have included Jesse Sergent, Campbell Stewart, and Simon van Velthooven.[2] Between 2005 and 2010, he was the national junior track cycling head coach.[2]
McRedmond has received numerous accolades at the annual Manawatū Sportsperson of the Year Awards. He won the award for coach of the year in 2007,[6] 2008, 2009,[7] 2014,[5] and 2015.[8] In 2012, he was named Manawatū's sports personality of the year.[9] In 2019, McRedmond was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by Milson Rotary, for services to cycling.[2]
Working life
editMcRedmond had a 41-year career in banking, beginning in 1976. He subsequently took a position as new vehicle consultant with Manawatū Toyota.[2]
Personal life
editMcRedmond and his wife, Natalie, have two daughters.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Michael McRedmond at the New Zealand Olympic Committee
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hopwood, Malcolm (7 January 2020). "Perseverance at the pedals fuels cycling life for Manawatū sporting stalwart". Manawatū Standard. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Second gold for Tucker in sprint". Canberra Times. 6 October 1982. p. 38. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Cycling track 1000m match sprint – men Edinburgh 1986". Commonwealth Games Federation. 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Cycling coach no stranger to top-level success". Manawatu Standard. 15 November 2014. p. 21.
- ^ Miles, Penny (24 November 2007). "Triathletes scoop awards". Manawatu Standard. p. 40.
- ^ Richardson, Daniel (14 November 2009). "Taylor reaps reward of effort". Manawatu Standard. p. 36.
- ^ Eade, Shaun (6 November 2015). "All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith claims supreme award at Manawatu Sports Awards". Manawatū Standard. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Cycling master tops awards". Manawatu Standard. 14 November 2012.