Paula Tesoriero

Why did you decide to compete in cycling?

All

I have ridden a bike from the time I was a kid. I biked to my friends' houses and everywhere around our neighbourhood. I had all sorts of bikes: a BMX, Cruiser, and a mountain bike. When I was at college and University, I started doing triathlons and duathlons for fun. I did the cycling part and my friends did the running and swimming. I continued doing these after University. A few years ago, my team started winning some duathlons and people suggested I start competing more seriously in cycling. My legs are a bit different than most peoples. My left leg is artificial because I am missing part of that leg. So I race with a very flash looking carbon leg, made especially for cycling. My right leg is also damaged as it has no ankle and therefore I cannot move it. So basically, the tops of my legs power the bike. When I was winning duathlons, I was winning them against people with ordinary legs, so people suggested I start competing more seriously against other people with disabilities. When I decided to do this, I had to get much more serious about my sport if I was going to try and compete against the world's best. I got a coach, gym trainers and lots of other support and started training very seriously over a few years to get to where I now am.

What do you like about cycling?

All

I LOVE cycling. I like many things about it:

1. Feeling the wind and sun on my face.
2. It is a non-weight bearing exercise, meaning that because you are sitting on the bike, the bike takes your body weight, which is different from sports like rugby where you are running and in contact with the ground all the time. The reason that non-weight bearing sports are good for me is that it means my legs don't take as much direct pressure as they would in some other sports.
3. You can go very fast on a bike. I like sports that are action-packed and involve speed, so track cycling is perfect.
4. Cycling keeps you fit and healthy (like many other sports).

What is the longest distance you have cycled?

Theo, age 10

Hi Theo. The longest distance I have cycled in one go is 165 kms. I was sore at the end of it! I have 3 main phases to my training: 1. Endurance/strength 2. Speed, 3. Maximum speed. When I am in my endurance phase, I often ride 100-120kms for particular rides. It's usually more fun to do long rides like this with other people. When you ride in a large group like this, the group is called a peleton. The peleton rides very close together and riding behind someone makes it easier because their back wheel creates a draft of wind for you to ride in (it's like being towed along), so it makes longer rides much easier and more fun. But you have to be careful in peletons because everyone rides close together so you have to watch out for obstacles.

Who do you look up to?

Mark, age 9

Hi Mark, there are a few people I look up to.

1. Sarah Ulmer, Gold medalist in the 3km pursuit at the Athens Olympics. I look up to her because she rides the same event as me and she has given cycling a real profile among women in New Zealand.
2. Mark Ingles: Silver medalist in the Kilo event at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. Mark also scaled Mt Everest last year and is a double amputee. I admire him because he gives everything a go and sees no obstacles to things he wants to achieve.
3. Lance Armstrong: 7 times winner of the Tour de France – the greatest cycling race in the world! I read a chapter from one of Lance's books every single morning. I have read the book probably about 200 times now. I do this because his messages about being prepared to push yourself hard are very clear and motivating.
4. Brian "Gilbert" Brian has been involved in Paralympic cycling for many years. He is also a mechanic and bike shop owner. I admire him because he works hard for people with disabilities to get them into sport. He spends many hours a day building trikes (3 wheeled bikes) for kids with disabilities so that they can ride a bike which many kids take for granted. He also modifies bikes for adults with disabilities (for example, someone might be missing a hand, so they need both brakes on one side of the bike).

What is your motivation?

All

I am a very determined person and like to set myself goals and work towards achieving them. I am motivated by challenging myself to push my body and mind hard and overcome different obstacles to help me achieve my goals. I am mainly motivated by wanting to get the most out of life and to really test myself to see what I am capable of achieving. Over the past couple of years, I have met some very inspirational people with disabilities who are involved in sport. I have learnt that there are always people worse off than yourself and that having fun and achieving goals through sport is possible for absolutely everyone.

You are competing in three events; the 500m and 3000m, as well as the road time trial, which event are you strongest in?

All

I currently hold the World Record in the 500m Time Trial, so this is my strongest event. However, I have achieved silver medals in the 3000m pursuit at the last two World Championships, so I do think I can pull off a medal in the pursuit at the Games. I am much stronger on the track than on the road.

Where is your favourite place to cycle?

Tom, age 9

Hi Tom. I have cycled in some awesome places. I've cycled among the vineyards in France and around the mountains in Switzerland. I've done lots of cycling in Australia as well. But my favourite place to cycle is in Wellington. My favourite time on the bike in Wellington is when I am around the waterfront and it's really early in the morning when the sun is coming up and the lights of the city are just coming on. It's really beautiful and I really like being on my bike to see the city wake up.

How much training do you do a week?

Theo, age 10

Hi Theo. I do heaps of training, but the hours vary throughout the year. Most days I do about 4 hours training. Some of this is on the bike and some of it is in the gym. I spend time in the gym building stronger muscles so that I am strong on the bike. And I spend time on the bike doing different drills like hill climbs, sprint drills, long rides and other things. I also have to fit sports massage and stretch sessions in because this is very important and helps keep me on the bike. I also need to catch up with my coach and find time to meet with the person who makes my carbon racing leg. So all of this takes quite a bit of time!

Do you get to test the track before you race?

Tom, age 9

Hi Tom. Yes I do get to test the track. Usually before major competitions like the World Champs and the Paralympic Games, countries will be allowed certain times to practice on the track. This is very important because even though most velodromes look the same, they can be very different to actually ride. For example, some tracks can have steeper ends, shorter straight bits and some tracks feel more slippery if they are new.

Have you had any accidents cycling?

Mark, age 10

Oh yes! Thankfully none of them have been too serious. I have never crashed on the track, but I have had a few crashes on the road. The most serious one was while I was in my final preparation stages for the 2006 World Champs in Switzerland. I was practicing on the road time trial course and was trying to make sure I knew all the angles of the corners really well before race day. I took one of the corners too fast, and crashed. The sprocket got caught in my calf and ripped it open. I needed 10 stitches which was not great since I had to race at the World Champs in 7 days time! But I managed to get silver in the pursuit even though my leg was very sore. Most of my other crashes on the road have been small ones. I've had a few near misses with buses in Wellington – but thankfully I've always managed to dodge them at the last minute.

What are you most looking forward to about the city of Beijing?

Mark, age 9

Hi Mark. The Chinese culture is unique and different to New Zealand's. So I am looking forward to learning more about the Chinese culture and its people. There are some great sites in Beijing like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. So I hope that I get to see some of the sites of Beijing after my racing has finished.

How does it feel to be picked for the Paralympics?

Chantal, age 8

Hi Chantal. Wow, being selected to represent New Zealand in your chosen sport is an amazing feeling. I still clearly remember the first time I put on my first ever New Zealand skin-suit- it was a really special moment. This is my first Paralympic Games so it feels particularly special. It feels great that I am good enough at cycling to compete against the world's best and put all my training to effect. It's also a bit scary because so many people have helped me get to this point that I feel I owe it to them as well to bring home the gold!

Paula Tesoriero before a race.

Where do you live in NZ?

Jack, age 9

Hi Jack. I live in Wellington. I do most of my training in Wellington (but often use the track in Invercargill as well) and work in Wellington.

Do you have a job or are you a professional athlete?

Asinate, age 10

I have a job as well as cycling. When I finished college, I studied law at University and worked as a lawyer in Wellington for a few years. I now work at the Ministry of Justice where I manage a team of people who are involved in the running of the Higher Courts (that's the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of New Zealand). I love my job and like my sport, I worked very hard to achieve my professional goals by working hard at school. Having a job like this does mean it can sometimes be hard balancing training and work, but it usually works ok. I have taken some time off work now though to build up to the Paralympics in Australia. I took leave from work for three months to totally focus on cycling so that I could give the Games 100% focus. I am doing my build-up in Australia because it is a bit warmer than home and has a good indoor velodrome.

What would you do if you weren't cycling?

Tom, age 9

That's a hard one Tom! I can't imagine not cycling. I guess if I was not cycling, I'd have more time to spend with family and friends. But if I wasn't cycling, I would be involved in some other type of sport because sport keeps you healthy and is lots of fun and a great way to meet people and make friends.

Do you get bored with all the training?

Tom, age 9

I think most athletes have days where the training gets to them. I never get bored with the training, but sometimes I don't get to see my friends and family as much as I would like to because work and cycling takes up most of the hours in my day. Sometimes this is hard, but everyone understands how important cycling is to me and they are very supportive. My coach is also very good at making my sure my program has lots of variety in it so that I am always challenged and don't get bored.

Is your family involved in sport?

Asinate, age 10

Hi Asinate. Some members of my family play sport, but no one else in my family is into cycling (apart from my 6 year old nephew who likes his bike and is coming all the way to Beijing to watch me). My mum played tennis for many years and she is a member of a competitive marching group. My brother played rugby at school for many years and my sister played netball. My 7 year old niece also plays netball and is getting quite good at it. My 6 year old nephew does karate. My husband Chris does mountain-biking and he also plays a big role in my cycling career by taking me to events, running our house (because I'm always at training or at work) and giving me heaps of moral support. My husband, mum, step-dad, dad, sister and nephew are all coming to Beijing to watch me which is fantastic.

What was your favourite sport before cycling?

Tom, age 9

Hi Tom. I have played lots of sport over the years, as I'm sure you and your classmates do. I'm not sure if I have a favourite because I have enjoyed them all. I played netball as a kid, but wasn't very good at it. I played tennis for a few years, and wasn't too good at that either. I played hockey at college for a few years and loved it, and was a reasonably good player. I also played social squash for a few years before cycling and really enjoy it. I also LOVE duathlons and triathlons (but only the cycling bit – my mates do the other parts of them). I think the best thing to do is try lots of different sports and stick with the one you enjoy the most.

Read more about Paula's build up to the Beijing Olympic games in our exclusive article, Spinning Class.

Updated | 31 Oct 2008.

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