Australian trackie Meares tells her story

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Meares and Mrs Johnson with the first signing of the day.(Image credit: Anna Meares)

If you've come within two milimetres of possibly dying and won an Olympic silver medal in the same year, chances are there's a story or two to tell. This is the case for Australian track sprinter and multiple world and Olympic champion Anna Meares, who released her book this week, documenting her rise to promience, the agony of her fall and the near-miracle of her achievement at the Beijing Olympics.

It's an honest and heart-felt account of an extremely difficult time in the life of a champion and illustrates what it takes to overcome a massive hurdle - strength, support and a will to succeed. It's what has made her popular with Australian fans of all sporting persuasions, some of who she met during a recent book signing in her home town of Rockhampton (pictured, right). Meares is promoting her new read along the east coast of Australia in a whirlwind book tour and took time to meet young and old fans, her tales of courage a lesson for those of all ages.