Biography

If you asked me when I was twelve what I was going to be, I would have told you that I was going to be an Olympic ski racer. I looked toward the future, always expecting more from myself, wanting my horizons to extend past the borders of my own imagination. I was taught that I could achieve anything if I set my mind to it.

Dreams have a funny way of changing. Some may call it fate others happenstance. Fate at times, too, can be tremendously painful; I tore my ACL in a ski race requiring surgery.  Bicycling became part of my five-month rehabilitation to get back on the snow. During this period of time something happened, I began to fall in love with everything that had to do with a bike. I went back to ski racing and began to race my bike. The following year I tore my other ACL playing soccer requiring surgery once again. This incident altered my dream of being on Olympic ski racer to becoming an Olympian through cycling.

In 2007 my athletic pursuits rode me to gold in the 17/18 Junior Nationals time trial event earning an automatic invitation to the Junior World’s to be held in Aguascalintes, Mexico. My ride in Mexico  brought me to the podium in bronze becoming the second American woman to earn a medal at the Junior World Championships in the Time Trial event. The feeling of standing on the podium representing my country was amazing, simply outstanding; there are no words that I can come up with that completely describe how I felt that moment.

My trip to Mexico was the first time that I left the United States and experienced foreign culture. Mexico's love for the sport of cycling was more intense in comparison to that of the United States. Fans crowded the streets to cheer on the racers. On the training day, children lined the streets and held up their hands for high-fives as racers rode by.

My second invitation to Junior World Championships in 2008 took me to an unexpected place, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. My experience in South Africa gave me new perspective about the world. The people and their stories fascinated me; there was one man named Amon who made a lasting impression. He came to Cape Town  from Malawi to seek work to support his wife and children he left behind. I was amazed to hear his story of struggles and sacrifice that he made to survive. As an immigrant worker, he was faced with the threat of hostility and even death. But through all of his struggles he holds a positive outlook and a kind heart. This year during the 2010 World Soccer Championships, he contacted my family and I wishing America good luck.

I have  spent several weeks in Italy and many hours in a car traversing across Europe to the Czech Republic. I lived six weeks in Limoux, France and with my team drove to just about every corner of the country including places such as Dijon and Paris. I also stopped at several delicious pâtisserie’s along my journey through the provinces of France; I “consumed” the French culture.

I am blessed that USA Cycling has provided me with experiences to participate in races abroad to help me learn about myself, others and to excel in my sport.