Cara Feain-Ryan

Feain-Ryan began running in regional youth competition as early as 2013, participating in cross country running and winning the national U18 2000 metres steeplechase title.[1][3] She first represented Australia at the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships, where she won a silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase.[1] She later qualified for her first global championship at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, where she finished 11th in her heat and did not qualify for the finals.[1]

At the 2021 Summer World University Games (postponed to 2023), Feain-Ryan kicked in the final lap of the 3000 m steeplechase to win her first international gold medal.[4][5] She won her first senior national title at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships, qualifying her to represent Australia again at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.[6][7] At the world championships, she finished 7th in her heat and did not advance to the finals.[1]

Feain-Ryan grew up in Alstonville, New South Wales, Australia. Her mother supports her athletics career, as her father died of brain cancer in 2008.[6] In 2015, she moved from Lismore, New South Wales to Brisbane, where she trains with Genevieve Gregson.[2][4]

She received a sports scholarship at the University of Queensland, where she studied speech pathology. She struggled with injuries during her early university career. Feain-Ryan is now coached professionally by Ben Norton, and she also coaches youth cross country and middle-distance running at Moreton Bay College.[3][2] Feain-Ryan struggled with funding her career, telling the Sydney Morning-Herald that she was not adequately supported by the Australian governing bodies.[8]

Her cousin is Matt Ryan, Olympic medallist in rowing.[2]

• Cara Feain-Ryan at World Athletics