Career
Atherton began riding BMX at the age of 8 and mountain biking at the age of 11. She was both Sunday Times" Sportswoman of the Year and British Broadcasting Corporation Midlands Junior Sportswoman of the Year in 2005, and then British Broadcasting Corporation Midlands Sportswoman of the Year in 2008. In October 2015, a video of Atherton overtaking 91 competitors in five minutes during a race went semi viral.
Since 2007 Rachel Atherton has been part of the Animal Commençal race team along with brothers Dan Atherton and Gee Atherton.
In 2012, Rachel along with brothers Dan, Gee and Marc Beaumont signed with GT Bicycles. Rachel Atherton was involved in an accident with a pickup truck whilst on a time trial training ride with brothers Dan and Gee in Santa Cruz, California, on January 18, 2009.
She sustained a dislocated shoulder which, after later needing a nerve graft, ruled her out of the 2009 racing season, including the September World Championships in Canberra. In September 2012, Rachel Atherton took the final World Cup round on a diverse and testing Norwegian track and clinched the overall title, despite missing the opening race of the season.