Paul Manning

Paul Manning became a professional cyclist after graduating with a degree in earth sciences from Birmingham University in 1996. Whilst he had some success on the roads and won Ireland’s premier road race, the Milk Ras, in 2001, he was primarily a track specialist and excelled at the pursuit disciplines. He was a member of British teams that won medals at the team pursuit at every world championships between 2000 and 2008 including three world titles between 2005 and 2008. In addition to five silver medals and a bronze from the team event he won a 10th medal, his only solo honour, when he placed third in the individual pursuit in 2006. Manning’s Olympic career showed a continuous upward trend. Third place in Sydney was followed by a silver medal in Athens then victory with a world record breaking performance at the Beijing Olympics. He also won the double of individual and team pursuit at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, a silver and a bronze from the same event four years earlier and was four times national champion at the individual pursuit. Following his retirement at the end of 2008 he joined the coaching staff of British Cycling.