Tara Whitten led the Canadian team to a bronze medal victory over Australia in the women's team pursuit, part of the track cycling program at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Canada finished with a time of three minutes, 17.915 seconds.

Whitten, along with Jasmin Glaesser and Gillian Carleton, beat the Australian team by a margin of 0.181 seconds to claim third place overall. The three women earned Canada's first cycling medal of London 2012.

Canada took an early lead, before losing time to Australia coming to the finish of the first 1000 metres, with times staying incredibly close, but Canada came out ahead with a strong pull by Whitten.

Great Britain won a third gold medal in the London 2012 Velodrome, beating the American team with a time of 3:14.051, a new world record. The Americans finished nearly six seconds back of the winners.

Carleton fractured her pelvis at a World Cup stop in November. She recovered to rejoin the team early in 2012. Glaesser is German born, but became a Canadian citizen in September 2011.

The Canadians qualified fourth fastest in the opening round of the event, matching up against powerhouse Great Britain in the semifinals. Although Canada was beaten, their time was fast enough to qualify for a shot at the bronze medal race.

Canada's team has been racing together for just one season, but have already shown considerable talent, winning a silver medal at the London World Cup, and a bronze medal at the World Championships. 

The only other Canadian woman to earn an Olympic medal was Lori-Ann Muenzer, in the women's sprint at Athens 2004.

Whitten will continue her Olympic competition in the women's Omnium, starting August 6.

New Zealand beat the Netherlands by nearly four seconds to claim fifth place. Belarus finished seventh, beating the German squad.