Rushlee Buchanan

About Me

“I have competed as a professional athlete for the past 15 years. I began living and traveling internationally with professional cycling teams in 2007, and have represented New Zealand on the world stage every year since 2004. For most of my cycling career I have also attended University extramurally through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship program. My study focused on sport governance, athlete wellbeing, and women in sport. After graduating with a Bachelor’s 2018, I now pursue a Master’s degree in Sport Management (2022). I pride myself on being a respected teammate, friend, and confidante to both athletes and staff. My successes have come from a personal dedication to making Cycling New Zealand a progressive organization focused on athlete wellbeing. I am passionate about changing CNZ for the betterment of both the organization and the athletes. I believe sport should empower athletes to be the best possible versions of themselves. As I near the end of my sporting career I grow more passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience with the next generation. I currently chair the Athlete’s Voice Committee in CNZ, and also created an athlete mentoring program within CNZ. My career goal is to continue combining my athletic background with my governance knowledge to help women and youth succeed in high performance sport, and to help sporting organizations see the power in using empathy in communication to create a trusting environment with their athletes. ”