Full Circle

When thirteen-year-old Joanna Rowsell Shand decided to take on a challenge set by representatives from British Cycling, she didn’t realize that the decision would change her life, leading her to Olympic glory. She was mainly motivated by the prospect of escaping a double maths lesson. In fact, Jo’s power output was off the chart – the highest ever recorded for a female of her age – and she was talent-spotted for the junior cycling team. But with no experience in the sport, Jo was well behind her peers, who had been prepped for life on a bike since infancy. In addition, Jo was – and remains – a very shy girl, not least because of her condition, alopecia universalis, which took her hair from her just as her teenage years were about to strike. Candid, poignant and written with characteristic honesty and self-deprecating wit, this is a story of grit, determination and triumph over adversity that will leave you feeling inspired.