ROAD | Katrin Garfoot announces retirement

2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and triple World Championship medallist Katrin Garfoot, 36, has officially announced her retirement from cycling today.

“I am content with my journey over the past few years. I thank everyone involved and everyone who supported me,” said Garfoot. 

​German-born Garfoot began competitive cycling in 2011 at the age of 29 after being encouraged by her husband Chris to purchase a three-race license with the Gold Coast Cycling Club. 

Garfoot enjoyed immediate success on the local circuit before dominating Australia’s domestic scene in 2013, claiming overall honours in the Cycling Australia National Road Series.
 
The World Tour beckoned, with Garfoot joining the Orica/AIS team in 2014 where she amassed a number of World Tour podium appearances in her debut season.  

After officially becoming an Australian citizen in 2013, Garfoot made her Australian team debut at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games where she won time trial bronze. 

At the UCI Road World Championships, Garfoot rewrote the Australian cycling history books, firstly by becoming the first Australian woman in history to win two medals in one event after claiming back-to-back time trial bronze in 2016 and 2017.  

At the 2017 World Championships, Garfoot’s road race silver saw her become just the second Australian woman after Anna Wilson to claim dual medals in the same year.  

In the history of the Road World Championships, Garfoot stands with Michael Rogers as the only two riders to claim three medals for Australia. 

Garfoot made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio and, after having come down with a badly timed flu in the lead up to the event, she finished as the highest placed Australian in ninth in the time trial, while also contesting a brutal women’s road race. 

In 2018, Garfoot claimed her third consecutive time trial national title at the FedUni Road National Championships to take her career tally to four after storming to the 2017 road crown.  
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In her final professional cycling event raced in her hometown, Garfoot claimed Commonwealth Games gold with an emphatic victory in the time trial. 

“After the Commonwealth Games I wanted to see if life swept me up and it sort of has. I did not feel like training anymore,” revealed Garfoot. 

“My cycling career was an intense time for me and now I want to enjoy life with my friends and family. 

“A lot of people asked me "what comes next for you". I am not certain of what that is, but I am taking my time to mull over some ideas and see what comes of it.”

Cycling Australia CEO Steve Drake paid tribute to Garfoot.

“From her first race with her local club to the absolute pinnacle representing her adopted country at the Olympic and World Championships, Kat has had an amazing cycling journey.

“While Kat’s international results are worthy of high praise, it is her passion, dedication and commitment to excellence that will be her lasting legacy. 

“Kat is clearly a gifted athlete, but she has also provided a great example to women that it is never too late to try competitive cycling. 

“We wish Kat all the best in the next chapter of her life and we hope to see her around a bike race very soon.”

Katrin Garfoot Career Highlights 
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• Olympic Games: Rio 2016 - Ninth –Time Trial; 
• Commonwealth Games: Gold – Time Trial – 2018 Commonwealth Games; Bronze - Time trial – 2014 Commonwealth Games
• World Championships: Silver – Road Race – 2017 UCI Road Cycling World Championships; Bronze – Time Trial – 2016 UCI Road Cycling World Championships; Bronze – Time Trial – 2017 UCI Road Cycling World Championships 
• National Championships: 2016, 2017, 2018 Time trial champion; 2017 Road Race champion 
• Oceania Championships: 2015, 2016 Time trial champion; 2013 Road Race champion 
• Winner Santos Women’s Tour 2016; Chrono Champenois - Trophée Européen 2016; 

Photos credit John Veage, Casey Gibson, Con Chronis, Tim Bardsley-Smith.