Rebecca Romero has a remarkable story and has proved herself as a true athlete. For 10 years she was a rower, winning a silver at the Olympics and gold at the world championships. Even though she was sure to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics, her heart wasn’t in the sport.

“Even if I had been guaranteed a gold medal in rowing at the Beijing Olympics, I was getting out. It was a waste of life. If you can’t do something in a whole-hearted and completely committed way, I would rather not bother,” she said. “I would rather do something to the best of my ability in obscurity. I’m a perfectionist.”

She said she didn’t like the regimentation of rowing training. She looked for a new sport and found track cycling. She adapted quickly to the sport and in a short time become world champion of the sport and favorite to win gold at the Beijing Olympics.

Read more: Drive and power help Rebecca Romero conquer the velodrome