Our new Marketing Intern

About Me

My name is Bryony. I grew up on the North Shore in Auckland but moved to Cambridge at 18 years old to pursue my dream of competing in the Olympics for track cycling. I have competed in two Commonwealth Games (2018 & 2022), winning two silvers in the Team Pursuit and a gold in the Individual Pursuit. I’ve also competed in two Olympic Games (2020 & 2024), where my team and I recently won silver in the Team Pursuit.

I also study at the University of Waikato. I have a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology and Marketing and am now working towards my Master’s in Management Studies in Marketing and a second Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, focusing on Public Relations and Leadership Communication. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the piano, spending time with my partner, and cooking/baking.

What Got Me Into Track Cycling

I started cycling at 12 years old, thanks to my dad, who got me into the sport. It quickly became something we did together with dad coaching me and completing every training session alongside me. When I was 14, he took me to the velodrome in Manukau for a “have a go" session. I couldn’t stop smiling after my first time on the track, I instantly loved it, and from that moment I knew this was what I wanted to do.

Athlete/Life Balance - Joining Velobike 

I believe it’s so important to maintain a balance in life, which is why I enjoy doing many things outside of my sport. It allows me to disconnect from the athlete mindset, and when I need to step away from studying or working, riding my bike helps me reset. I have a strong interest in marketing and have loved learning about it at university. The Internship Scholarship programme through High Performance Sport New Zealand has given me the opportunity to gain real world experience and put my area of knowledge into practice at Velobike. My internship with Velobike allows me to have the flexibility of gaining work experience while still training full time. The team at Velobike understands the demands of being a professional athlete and has created a supportive environment that enables me to contribute to their company without compromising my training schedule.

Current Role & Future Plans

My role at Velobike involves helping them with their marketing strategy, defining their social media tone of voice, and brainstorming ways to better communicate and advertise to their target markets. But my primary goal is to learn and gain experience in a real work/business environment, building on what I’ve learned at university.

Velobike Equipment I Use

As a professional athlete with Cycling New Zealand, we use a lot of Velobike equipment! My favourite is the Skat Endurance Handlebar. Anyone who knows me knows I love a pursuit, and these bars allow me to get into a position on my bunch bike that closely mirrors my pursuit position, making me feel super aerodynamic, saving watts, and helping me take laps.