Rachel Neylan

Rachel Neylan is an Olympian, World Championship Silver Medallist, and former professional road cyclist whose career spanned over 13 years at the highest level of international sport. Her defining achievement came in 2012 when she won a silver medal at the UCI Road World Championships, an extraordinary feat for an athlete who only discovered cycling in her mid-twenties. Today, Rachel shares her story as a keynote speaker, captivating audiences with her powerful reflections on resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of human potential. Her keynote, ‘The Climb from Within’, is a moving exploration of grit and perseverance, delivered with authenticity and impact.

Rachel’s path to professional cycling was anything but conventional. Growing up in Sydney, she first pursued athletics and rowing before graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy. She worked as a physiotherapist with the Australian Rowing Team and Sydney Swans, gaining unique insight into elite performance and sports medicine. At 25, she made a bold decision to swap the treatment room for the bike, applying her background in high performance science to fast-track her progression in a sport she had never raced before. Within a few short years, Rachel had carved out a place in the international peloton, driven by determination and an unwavering belief in her ability to succeed.

Over the next decade, Rachel raced for some of the world’s leading professional teams, including Orica-AIS, Movistar Team, and Cofidis, competing on the UCI Women’s World Tour. She represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics and six World Championships, and celebrated victories such as the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (2015), the Trophée d’Or Féminin (2015) and the Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan Dames (2016). Alongside these achievements, she consistently placed on podiums across Europe, demonstrating remarkable resilience after setbacks including major injuries and a serious car accident. Beyond racing, Rachel has been a brand ambassador and advisor for leading sports and health technology companies, and is currently completing an MSc in Coaching Psychology, adding academic depth to her applied expertise in performance and longevity.

Rachel is now a performance consultant and keynote speaker who brings together her experiences as an Olympian, physiotherapist, and coach. She has a rare ability to connect science, sport, and human stories in a way that resonates across business and leadership. Her talks empower organisations to embrace resilience, adapt to change, and strive for sustainable success. By combining a physiotherapist’s precision, an athlete’s drive, and a coach’s empathy, Rachel gives audiences a blueprint for thriving under pressure and unlocking untapped potential.