Mike McRedmond

Personal information
Full name	Michael John McRedmond
Born	1958 (age 65–66) Dannevirke, New Zealand
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Sport
Country	New Zealand
Sport	Cycling
Event	Sprint
Coached by	Max Vertongen[2]
Medal record Men's cycling Representing  New Zealand Commonwealth Games 1982 Brisbane 1000 m match sprint

Michael John McRedmond (born 1958) is a New Zealand cycling coach and former racing cyclist who won a silver medal competing for his country at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

Early life

Born in Dannevirke in 1958,^[1] McRedmond grew up in Palmerston North and was educated at St Peter's College.^[2]

Cycling

Rider

McRedmond began competitive cycling after seeing the Tour of Manawatu cycle race, which had the finish of its final stage close to his family home.^[2] Without a natural talent for the sport, McRedmond says that he succeeded through hard work and perseverance:

I wasn't a great cyclist, but with training, hard work, determination and resilience I gradually got better. My philosophy is to be the best I can be so to achieve success I had to apply myself.^[2]

McRedmond represented New Zealand in the men's 1000 metres sprint at the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games.^[1] At the 1982 games in Brisbane, he advanced unbeaten to the final, where he lost 0–2 to the defending champion, Kenrick Tucker from Australia, and so won the silver medal.^[3] Four years later, in Edinburgh, McRedmond placed sixth in the same event.^[4]

Domestically, McRedmond won the New Zealand national sprint title five times, and the national 15 kilometres scratch race title on three occasions. He later won a national Masters 80 kilometres road race championship.^[2]

Coach

After retiring from competitive cycling in 1986, McRedmond began coaching young cyclists in the 1990s.^[5] In about 2000, he started unpaid coaching at Palmerston North Boys' High School,^[5] where his protégés have included Jesse Sergent, Campbell Stewart, and Simon van Velthooven.^[2] Between 2005 and 2010, he was the national junior track cycling head coach.^[2]

McRedmond has received numerous accolades at the annual Manawatū Sportsperson of the Year Awards. He won the award for coach of the year in 2007,^[6] 2008, 2009,^[7] 2014,^[5] and 2015.^[8] In 2012, he was named Manawatū's sports personality of the year.^[9] In 2019, McRedmond was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by Milson Rotary, for services to cycling.^[2]

Working life

McRedmond had a 41-year career in banking, beginning in 1976. He subsequently took a position as new vehicle consultant with Manawatū Toyota.^[2]

Personal life

McRedmond and his wife, Natalie, have two daughters.^[2]

References