On this day...

Maryline Salvetat

Maryline Salvetat, born today in 1974 in the French town of Castres, has been National Under-19 Road Race Champion on two occasions (1991, 1992), National Cyclo Cross Champion four times (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007), World Cyclo Cross Champion (2007) and National Time Trial Champion (2007). Along the way, she's won the GP de France (1996), a Trophée des Grimpeurs (2006) and a string of important cyclo cross races as well as a silver medal at the 2005 National Mountain Bike Championship.

In 2010 Clara Hughes - the only Canadian athlete to have won medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics and one of the most successful Canadian cyclists of all time - was Canadian flag bearer at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Melinda McLeod, born on this day 1993 in Australia, is a professional BMX rider widely recognised as one of the best jump riders in the world. She has won three gold medals at the World BMX Championships, enough to make her the most successful Australian BMX rider of all time.