Jaime Nielsen

EVENT: Track Cycling: Women's Team Pursuit

Nielsen has returned to the sport following the birth of her daughter, with Tokyo to be her third Olympic Games. Her early sporting achievements were in rowing as part of the national squad for five years until 2007 when she transitioned to cycling through the Power to Podium initiative.

Nielsen was in the team pursuit that won silver in the World Championships in 2009 and bronze in 2011 before finishing fifth at the London Olympic Games.

A two-time national time trial champion, Nielsen tried her hand on the road, riding for a professional team in Europe before returning to the track for the Rio Olympics where the team pursuit placed fourth. She had time away from the track as a mother, and broke the New Zealand One Hour record on the track in the fastest time in the world at sea level at the time. She returned to the track programme to add strength and experience to the high performance group.