I was diagnosed with a condition called reflex sympathetic dystrophy as a
result of nerve damage through the op, and was on some pretty ordinary
medication…including a narcotic…to help deal with the pain.
To cut a long story short…over the next few years, I had two more
revisions..( a fancy word for more leg amputated) two small children to
consider… and after reaching  a point of desperation, I  took control of all
aspects of my rehab.
One of the symptoms of the condition was significant temp drop in my crook
leg.  I knew that I had to get moving if I didn’t want more off, so figured
an exercise bike would provide both  increased circulation ,whilst not
directly weight bearing on the troubled stump.
After quite some time, I was getting exciting results and traded in the
stationary exercise bike for a mountain bike… beginning with laps around our
small block, then after more time, traded up again, for a 12kg second hand
road bike, and gradually built up the kms.
The thrill of being able to move fast under my own steam was awesome…(And
still is to this day!) and I sought out someone to begin coaching me to
prepare for road racing.
In 2002 I entered my first club road race…and came in dead last (by a huge
chunk of time) but I finished…and swore to myself, that that’s the last
time I will  ever come LAST…And then the training began….

SUB - What are the highlights (sorry for the clichés..!) of your sporting career so far? 

AF - The highlights of my sporting career so far would definitely have to be
winning a World Title and WR at the 2007 World Championships at Bordeaux,
closely followed by a Silver in the road race. (This is very special because
every year I seemed to get worked over by the Chinese girls … and this year
I attacked hard on the last hill and got away from them claiming silver to
the US girl)
Another huge highlight this year was winning the “Amy Gillet Safe” award and
the AWD Female Cyclist of the Year!

SUB - Did you decide straight away that you were going to aim for international competition – or was it more social to begin with?

AF - No…when I began cycling I never dreamt I would be preparing for
international competition…It was purely social and for fun… to see how
hard I could push myself.

SUB - What sort of equipment do you need – as an amputee (excuse any of my wrong terminology!)? Are there huge gains/losses to be made in performance, with differing levels of equipment? 

AF - Equipment??….as far as bike set up goes, I ride on exactly the same as anyone with two legs, but “equipment” is a perfect word for the various legs I need for training, racing and gym work. I have 2 different bike legs and two different lifting legs…all with different components and for specific purposes ( like wheels). There is a very broad spectrum of cycling legs out there being worn by different countries…. And each is custom made.
In regards to performance...basically it comes down to how cluey your prosthetist is, how much research he/she has put into the leg…. And dollars.

SUB - What was it like for the first time riding a bike – literally the first time – after your amputation? 

AF - The very first time on two wheels for me was terrifying and
exciting, all rolled into one. Having to “feel through my knee” was a whole
new concept, because of the lack of a foot.
And because I couldn’t feel how much of my foot was on the pedal, when I
got out the saddle, my prosthetic foot would regularly slip off….causing me
to land heavy on the top tube. It wasn’t long before I decided that cleats
were next on the agenda.
Balance and getting the prosthetic leg the correct length was also an issue.

SUB - When did you decide that you were going to track race..? And why the 500m? Are you more of a sprinter than an endurance rider?

AF - Track really came about as another possible training  option, only
because my stump was in such  poor condition from the road racing and the
heat during  summer….  I thought track (shorter events) may be kinder to my
leg.
So… found someone (Graham McArthur)… willing to coach me, bought a bike
and started training. My first race was the State Championships, then the
Nationals…and I ended up claiming two WR’s (3000m Pursuit and 500tt)…so
thought this just might be worth a shot.
As the year went on and the Olympics arrived, I eagerly watched as much
racing as I could, and when I saw a NZ girl… Sarah Ulmer…race that final,
pushing herself like her life depended on it… winning Gold, it ignited a
hunger inside, to be able to hurt like that, and achieve!
As for 500m or Pursuit ?? …to look upon  my 50kg frame, one would think
enduro, but for reasons beyond our understanding, I seem to be getting
stronger and faster in the 500m tt.

SUB - If you’re more of a sprinter, how the HELL did you break the Individual Pursuit World Record this year?!?!?!!

AF - Now THAT is the question of much discussion!
I guess, having both a road and pursuit background to begin with, coupled
with a program last year  that was based largely in the gym,  resulted in
being stronger than the previous years, and that came out on the day.
Also the fact that I didn’t yet possess that rainbow jersey that I had
thought about every single day for the past year…unfinished business you
could say was my motivation!

SUB - Talk us through your average training day in an endurance phase, and in a track-specific phase? Cycling-gym work etc.

AF - An endurance day (few and far between for us “sprinters”) would consist
of 50 – 60kms on the road with some high cadence efforts or some strength
endurance efforts in the hills.
A day on the track would normally be a double session, starting with gym am,
then track pm. On track we begin with some motor pacing, and then standing
starts, flys then finish up with some more motor pacing.

SUB - Are you a full-time athlete?

AF - If only!…no, I am a part time athlete, part time employee, full time mum
and a  “not-too-shabby” time manager.

SUB - Who coaches you?

AF - Kevin McIntosh has been my day to day coach for the past two years, and
writes my programs, and Scotty Baker is my Strength and Conditioning coach.

SUB - What are the 3 (or more or less!) key things that you believe had you performing so well at the Worlds this year? Anything different to previous years?

AF - A good strength base under my belt, (had gained 5kg over the space of a
year…yay!) Self belief and also more attention to detail re the little things.

SUB - How is your new bike leg different to previous legs?

AF - My bike legs differ from all my other legs mainly in the fact that it
has no foot. Attached to the socket (which is the bit my stump goes into) is
a pole with a carbon extension on the end, which the cleat attaches to.
This leg is also longer than my walking legs to allow for full reach at the
bottom of the stroke, as there is no ankle for flexion.

SUB - What support do you get in Oz as a World Record Holder and World Champ?

AF - As a selected member of the Target Beijing Squad, I am fortunate to have
full access to coaching and program needs from the South Australia Institute
of Sport, and the Australian Sports Commission,  through Cycling Australia,
support me financially to cover most competing expenses i.e. International
travel, meals, accommodation etc.
I am also very fortunate to have tremendous support from two local
businesses. Rob Tucker from Mount Barker Cycles recently negotiated with
Sarah Ulmer and Sub bikes (… totally unbeknown to myself), and presented me
with an awesome bike and clothing, and Gavin from The Mt Barker Natural
Food Barn also help support my supplementary needs.

SUB - What’s THE coolest thing that you enjoy most about Track Cycling – or cycling in general?

AF - The coolest thing about track cycling??? Flying off the banks at awesome
speeds and motor pacing! Basically … moving fast!

SUB - As an amputee, do you have to do any supplementary training/specific exercises? i.e. for imbalances/strength...etc..?

AF - Yes I do…Quite a bit of work is done to improve core, and back stability
(which is done in the gym) and  being asymmetrical ,  means I have to spend
a good deal of time stretching each night. Not having an ankle also gets my
strength and conditioning coach thinking laterally and Scott continually
comes up with new lifts to achieve the desired results.SUB - Who do you do most of your training with?AF - When I am lifting, I train with a couple of other athletes also on the
Paralympic Program, and the road training is done either with a bunch in
Adelaide or on my own , as I live a distance from the city. Track training
can be just me and my coach, or us joining in with the AIS sprinters for a
session.

SUB - How on EARTH do you fit everything in, with a family!?!

AF - I honestly have not a clue, like water into wine, it just happens!
My daughter is a really great kid – we just all work well together!

SUB - What’s the hardest thing about being an athlete?

AF - Sacrificing time with my family to train and compete, especially when we
are out the country…   and continually juggling family, work commitments,
training, and life stuff to make sure it all fits in .

SUB - What’s the coolest thing you’ve done/met/seen/heard (sporting or otherwise) since you started competing for Australia and travelling around the world!

AF - The coolest thing…Now that’s a really hard one, there are sooo many.
But I must say… THIS one stands clear above the rest …Standing on the
middle dias, watching the Australian flag being raised whilst the National
Anthem is playing…pulling on that Rainbow Jersey ,and  realizing you have
finally made it !! Nothing gets close to that experience….