AUSTRALIAN cycling is mourning the death of Olympic champion Stephen Wooldridge at the age of 39.
Wooldridge was part of the Australian team pursuit that won gold on the track in the 2004 Athens Olympics and won four world titles in the same event in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.
He also won a gold and silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and in 2015 was inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions in recognition of his career.
At the Athens Olympics, Wooldridge rode the preliminary round of the team pursuit along with Peter Dawson before making way for Graeme Brown, Brad McGee, Brett Lancaster and Luke Roberts in the final as Australia beat Great Britain. But the IOC ruled that all riders who took part in any round would be awarded the same medal as those in the final.
Australia has not won Olympic gold in the team pursuit since 2004, finishing fourth in Beijing and second in both London and Rio.
“Stephen was an exceptional cyclist and Olympic Champion who will forever be remembered,” said AOC President John Coates.
“He was always very giving of his time to the Olympic movement, helping out with fundraising efforts whenever he could for the Australian Olympic Team over the years.
“Our deepest condolences are with his family, friends and all of those impacted by Stephen’s passing.”
Friends and former teammates including Scott McGrory and Phill Bates also paid tribute to Wooldridge on social media, and Cycling Australia and Cycling NSW both released their own statements.
The Cycling NSW statement said it was “deeply saddened” to hear of Wooldridge’s passing.
“Stephen was an inspirational figure in track cycling, particularly in his home state of NSW,” the statement said.
“He was an outstanding team pursuiter, being a four time world champion in the discipline along with being the 2002 Commonwealth Games champion. Perhaps his greatest feat, occurring at the 2004 Athens Olympics where with his team mates Dawson, Lancaster, Brown, McGee and Roberts, he took gold for Australia
“Stephen was inducted into the NSW Sports Hall of Fame in 2015; an honour he was delighted to receive both personally and for the sport of cycling.
“Stephen went onto pursue a career in the tertiary education sector primarily with the University of NSW, where he was a prominent administrator. This extended to his various roles with Cycling Australia and Oceania Cycling Confederation Boards and Committees.
“Cycling NSW’s thoughts are with Stephen’s family and his friends during this difficult time.”
Wooldridge started at the St George Cycling Club as a 12-year-old and club president Phill Bates said there was no better club man.
“Despite all his international success he rarely missed club functions and presentations, and always made himself available for a range of roles that helped promote the sport,” Bates said.
“He was everyone’s brother, an infectious character who always gave back to cycling, and I think of him as one as one of the great champions of St George Cycling Club.”
After finishing his track career, Wooldridge rode for southaustralia.com-AIS where he was a leader for other young riders.
He was also chair of the athletes commission and sat on the Cycling Australia board from 2007 to 2013.
Cycling Australia chief executive Nick Green said the cycling community was mourning the loss of an inspirational figure.
“Our thoughts are with Stephen’s family and friends during this very difficult time. Steve will be remembered by so many for not only his success in competition, but also for the contributions he made across so many roles in the sport,” Green said.
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