Dani Rowe
Dani Rowe MBE (née King) is an Welsh former road and track cyclist, winning Olympic Gold, three World titles and numerous European and British medals. One of the most successful British cyclists of all time, since retirement Dani has continued to work to promote cycling and to encourage others, particularly women, to participate in sport.
At the age of 14, the British Cycling Talent Team programme visited Dani’s College on a talent identification programme, which saw Dani ride a mountain bike round a field quicker than all the boys! Dani joined the team and progressed on to the Junior Olympic Development Programme (ODP), initially as a sprint cyclist before transferring to the endurance side of the sport where her natural talent lay.
Dani’s rapid progression and high work ethic didn't go unnoticed, and her progress resulted in national selection. At the Apeldoorn World Championships, 2011, she became World Champion in the 3km Team Pursuit with Laura Trott and Wendy Houvenhagel, establishing herself as a world-class athlete. At the same championships, Dani won a bronze medal in the scratch race, making her the most successful British athlete at the games. Further World titles followed in 2012 and 2013.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Rowe was part of one of the most successful Olympic team performances of all time where she won a gold medal in the team pursuit alongside Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell. The team also set a new world record time of 3:14:051.
As well as her track career, Dani has raced successfully on the road, racing for a number of teams including Vision 1 (led by Nicole Cooke), Horizon Fitness, Matrix, Wiggle Honda, Cylance Pro Cycling and WaowDeals Pro Cycling.
Through my journey I want to inspire others, particularly women, to take on a new challenge in their life, whether it is a 5k Parkrun or a multi-day cycling race, I hope to get people on the bike, out on the road or in the water.
Dani Rowe
In November 2014, Rowe was involved a serious crash after hitting a pothole while training on roads near Merthyr Tydfil. She suffered a snapped rib cage and a collapsed lung and spent 10 days in hospital. Her recovery from this training accident, to return to the professional ranks, underlines her tenacious character and is just one of many reasons she was nominated as one of the inspiring women on this years list of 100 Women in Cycling.
Rowe was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to cycling.
Since retirement Dani has continued to fnd ways to inspire others to cycle. She's an ambassador for Wiggle, where she uses her expertise as a former professional cyclist to provide insight on how to prepare mentally and physically for sporting events, which she hopes will inspire others to take up a new challenge.
Dani commented: “I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge and I always wanted to stay close to sport even in my retirement. Through my journey I want to inspire others, particularly women, to take on a new challenge in their life, whether it is a 5k Parkrun or a multi-day cycling race, I hope to get people on the bike, out on the road or in the water."
She's also co-owner and coach of Rowe and King, a cycle coaching company founded in 2015 that works with cyclists whether they are on "their first set of cycling shoes with cleats on working towards a healthier lifestyle or a target charity ride, through to sportive riders, amateur racers and professionals on the worlds biggest stages."
What is 100 Women in Cycling?
Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling is an annual list celebrating inspirational women who are encouraging others to cycle.
