Rebecca Henderson (cyclist)

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Rebecca Henderson

| image = Rebecca Henderson 2017 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Henderson in 2017

| fullname =

| nickname = Bec

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|9|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Canberra, Australia

| height = {{convert|158|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|49|kg|abbr=on}}

| currentteam =

| discipline = Mountain Bike (Cross Country)

| role = Rider

| ridertype =

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 = Canberra Off Road Cyclists

| amateuryears2 =

| amateurteam2 = Vikings Cycling Club

| proyears1 =

| proteam1 =

| majorwins = ;Mountain bike

:XC World Cup

::3 individual wins (2022)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{AUS}}}}

}}

Rebecca Henderson (born 27 September 1991), for some years competing as Rebecca McConnell, is an Australian mountain biker. She represented Australia at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics in the Mountain Bike Cross Country event. She came 28th at the 2020 Olympics.{{Cite web|title=Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/olympics/australian-olympic-team/|access-date=14 November 2021|website=The Roar|language=en-US}}

Henderson won a bronze medal at the 2019 and 2020 Mountain Bike World Championships.

Personal life

Nicknamed Bec, Henderson was born on 27 September 1991 in Canberra, Australia.{{cite web |url= http://london2012.olympics.com.au/athlete/rebecca-henderson |title=London 2012 – Rebecca Henderson |publisher=Australian Olympic Committee |location=Australia |accessdate=6 July 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cycling.org.au/?Page=33246 |title=Rebecca Henderson |publisher=Cycling Australia |location=Australia |date=20 April 2012 |accessdate=6 July 2012}} She attended Monash Primary School before going to high school at Mackillop Catholic College. {{As of|2020}}, she lives in Canberra, Australia.{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Sarah |title=Getting to Know: Australian XC MTB Champion Bec McConnell |url=https://www.pinkbike.com/news/getting-to-know-australian-xc-mtb-champion-bec-mcconnell.html |accessdate=8 August 2020 |work=Pinkbike |date=6 August 2020}} Henderson is {{convert|158|cm}} tall and weighs {{convert|49|kg}}.

She married her coach and partner, Daniel McConnell, in 2017;{{cite news |title=Mountain biking McConnells making history in Tokyo |url= https://commonwealthgames.com.au/mountain-biking-mcconnells-making-history-in-tokyo/ |access-date=29 August 2022 |work=Commonwealth Games Australia |date=18 June 2021}} he is also an Olympian. After they separated, she returned to using her maiden name in early 2023.{{cite web |last1=Migue |first1=A. |title=McConnell goes back to Bec Henderson and wins the Australian XCO and XCC Championships |url= https://en.brujulabike.com/bec-henderson-wins-xco-xcc-australian-championships/ |publisher=brujulabike.com |access-date=1 October 2023 |date=13 February 2023}}

Cycling

Henderson is a mountain biker, specialising in cross country events. She started cycling when she was twelve years old. She was coached by Dan McConnell, an Australian male cyclist who was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8489153 |title=Olympic mountain bike team named |publisher=Nine MSN |accessdate=6 July 2012}} Her primary cycling base is Canberra She is a member of the Canberra Off Road Cyclists and Vikings Cycling Club ACT. {{As of|June 2012}}, she was 2nd in the Under 23 World Cup series in 2012 and she is currently ranked 32nd in the World.

Henderson finished 1st at the 2011 U23 Australian Championships in Adelaide, Australia. She finished 1st at the 2011 U23 Oceania Championships in Shepparton, Australia. She finished 7th at the 2011 U23 UCI MTB World Cup in Dalby Forest, England.

Henderson finished 3rd at the 2012 U23 UCI MTB World Cup 5 in Mont Sainte Anne, Canada. She finished 2nd at the 2012 U23 UCI MTB World Cup 4 in La Bresse, France. She finished 13th at the 2012 U23 UCI MTB World Cup 3 in Nové Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic. She finished 3rd at the 2012 U23 UCI MTB World Cup 2 in Houffalize, Belgium.

Henderson has been selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Mountain Bike Cross Country — Women event.{{cite web |url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8489408 |title=Cyclist O'Grady off to sixth Olympics |publisher=Nine MSN |accessdate=6 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120628111826/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8489408 |archivedate=28 June 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/cycling/henderson-keeps-mum-on-surprise-olympic-selection-20120625-20yxy.html |title=Henderson keeps mum on surprise Olympic selection |work=The Canberra Times|date=26 June 2012 |accessdate=6 July 2012}} She was one of four Canberra cyclists from three different cycling disciplines selected to represent Australia at the Games. Her family was scheduled to travel to London to watch her compete.

Henderson finished third in the cross-country at the 2019 World Championships in Mont Sainte Anne.{{cite news |last1=Hurford |first1=Molly |title=Why Bec McConnell Just Might Be the Comeback Story of the Season |url=https://www.bicycling.com/news/a28951033/xc-mtb-world-championships-rebecca-mcconnell-2019/ |accessdate=11 October 2020 |work=Bicycling |date=10 September 2019}} She repeated her result again at the 2020 World Championships in Leogang.{{cite news |title=Pauline Ferrand-Prevot wins Elite Women Cross Country title at Mountain Bike World Championships |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-mountain-bike-world-championships-2020/elite-women-cross-country/results/ |accessdate=11 October 2020 |work=CyclingNews |date=10 October 2020}}

Henderson was selected to represent Australian in mountain biking at the Tokyo Olympics.{{cite news |title=Bec and Dan McConnell are going to the Tokyo Olympics! |url= https://flowmountainbike.com/post-all/bec-dan-mcconnell-tokyo-olympics/ |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=Flow Mountain Bike |date=16 June 2021}} She finished the Olympics in 28th place.{{cite news |title=Swiss sweep mountain bike medals in wet |url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/swiss-sweep-mountain-bike-medals-075035878.html |access-date=2 August 2021 |work=Yahoo! Sports |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=27 July 2021}}