Megan Giglia MBE
GB Paralympic track cyclist
Megan was only 27 when she suffered a brain haemorrhage and stroke, and subsequent loss of function in the right side of her body, and reduced speech and memory loss. Using her training as a sports and fitness coach to identify sports that could help her rehabilitation, she impressed at a British Cycling talent identification event and was accepted onto the Paralympic Development Programme in May 2014.
At the Newport Para-cycling International in early 2015, Megan enjoyed her first major success in international competition, winning silver in the individual pursuit and bronze in the 500-metre time trial. Following this performance she was selected for her debut UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Holland and finished fourth in the time trial and individual pursuit.
She went on to finish third in both the time trial and road race at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Maniago, Italy, in June 2015, and achieve two fourth places in the same events at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships later that summer.
In 2016, in the buildup to the Summer Paralympics in Rio, Giglia entered her second World Championships at Montichiari in Italy. She won gold in both the C3 500m time-trial and the individual pursuit setting new world records in both events. On the first day of the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Giglia won the women's 3000 m individual pursuit (C3) – Great Britain's first medal of the Games. She was awarded an MBE for services to cycling in 2017.
As a speaker, Megan shares her story of turning a devastating setback into sporting triumph powerfully with audiences, motivating and inspiring them to overcome barriers to success.
