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Dr Bridie O'Donnell is a valedictorian graduate of the University of Queensland Medical School who paused her medical career to become one of Australia's most accomplished cyclists. A multiple-time Australian National Time Trial Champion, she represented Australia on the international stage for more than a decade, racing for the national team in Europe and competing at three UCI Road World Championships as well as the Commonwealth Games. In 2016, at the age of 41, she made cycling history by setting the UCI Women's Hour World Record, covering 46.882 kilometres at the Adelaide Super-Drome. Beyond competition, Dr O'Donnell has become one of Australia's most influential voices in sport—as a leading advocate for women in cycling and high-performance sport, a broadcasting pioneer who became the first woman to commentate the Tour de France for SBS, and the author of Life and Death: A Cycling Memoir. She has also served in senior leadership roles in sport, including as Head of Sport at the Victorian Institute of Sport and Chair of the independent review into Australian cycling.

01:30 – Journey into Medicine and Professional Cycling 

04:30 – Mentality of Entering as Older Athlete

07:00 – Approaching Professionalism 

10:10 – Reconciling Injury form Athlete vs Doctor Point of Views

16:30 – Functioning on Low Caloric Intake

18:40 – Tour de France, Current Cycling HIA Protocol’s, Addressing Cycling Injuries 

27:40 – Course Surfaces and Selection, 

32:30 – Power Imbalances and Women in Sports

39:45 – Dr O’Donnell UCI Record 

42:30 - Favourite Moments From her Career

Dr Bridie O'Donnell

@bridie_od

Book: Life and Death: Bridie O'Donnell: a Cycling Memoir

Twitter: @first concussion

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Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com