Teen cycling sensation Ava Rodger - known as Gidget - has been selected for one of four highly covetted national positions in the AusCycling junior ARA team, pushing her a little closer to her Olympic dream.
The ambitious MLC high school student - winner of the the 2025 National Track Cycling Champion, and silver medaillist in YSD international series - has her sights set high.
She hopes the Australian Cycling Academy’s ARA team, which is the premier international development program for junior cyclists, will eventually put her on track for the Olympics.
“It’s exciting to know that all the hard work I’ve put in has led to this,” said Ms Rodgers, of Claremont.
“My ultimate goal is expanding by going into professional cycling, going to the Olympics and taking part in tour de France Femmes, which is the female version,” she said.
“That would be a really big achievement.”
The program serves as the official under 19’s development team for the WorldTour squad Team Jayco AlUla, and acts as a direct elite pathway for young Australian talent to transition to under 23’s team and to professional racing in Europe.
The teen has an inspiring journey into elite athleticism, which started with a heartfelt disappointment in year four of primary school, when she came close to last in a cross country event.
After complaining to her parents, they began coaching her at the local oval, helping her to win the event the following year.
Clearly not one to sit on her laurels, she then got involved in triathlons, which involved cycling and swimming.
In late 2023 she went through the Western Australia Institute of Sport talent identification program, and was invited into cycling, rowing and kayaking programs.
These days she balances her hectic training schedule and competition travel with doing five ATAR subjects at high school, along with her part-time job at sponsor and bike shop Glen Parker Cycles in Nedlands.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails