Anna Morris: World champion's medical career still 'on pause' for Olympics

Dr Anna Morris' Instagram bio ends with "career as a doctor on pause".

It was only meant to be for a year. But five years on and it's still on hold.

Having watched the Tokyo Olympics as a junior doctor in hospital, Morris decided to take a break from her medical career and, after enjoying cycling as a student, go all in on the sport. She dreamed of competing for Wales and Great Britain.

She has just won three world titles to cement her status as one of the very best in the world.

Morris' golds in the team pursuit, omnium and madison meant she became the first woman to win all three events in a single championships since the introduction of women's madison in 2017.

"It's pretty high up there with one of the best years on my bike so far," Morris told BBC Sport Wales, after she also won two golds and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in the summer.

"There's such strong depth in the women's field at the moment. There's some really good names in the field.

"You never know how you're going to fare up against them, so to come away with three golds, I'm still struggling to find the words."

Morris had not even been in a velodrome before she was 20.

Now 31, her rise to the top of the world has been remarkable. She won the world individual pursuit title in 2024 before she had even won the British national championship.

At each competition, and as each year passes, she seems to get better.

Now the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics are in her sights.

"It's down to hard work and consistency over time," she continued.

"Being part of British Cycling, you're among the best in the world and you can really learn off that.

"And I think that, when you enjoy what you do, when you're passionate about what you do and you put the hard work in, one thing's just led to the next.

"I think there's still more to come, hopefully."

After years of dominance, it has felt like the rest of the world has caught up with Great Britain over the last few campaigns.

But the team returned to the top of the medal table at the World Championships, despite their top male sprinter Matt Richardson having to withdraw amid an alleged misconduct investigation.

Morris won her golds in the women's team pursuit, omnium and madison (alongside teenage debutant Erin Boothman).

She did not ride one of her strongest events - the individual pursuit - only to see her team-mates Millie Couzens and Josie Knight take gold and silver.

"It is hard," Morris admitted. "You could probably field a few different teams that could all get the same result.

"So it is difficult when it comes down to selection, but as a team it's such a good place to be in.

"You're trying to be the best in the world at something so to have that depth and strength in your squad is just amazing, getting to train with each other, and it definitely contributes to their overall team performance."

The World Championships represented the first step on the qualification process for the 2028 Olympics.

And so, for at least another two years, Dr Morris' medical career remains on hold.