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At the Olympics, Kristen Faulkner achieved something for Team USA that hasn’t been seen since the 1984 Summer Games – a gold medal victory in the women’s cycling road race event.
She accomplished the feat in an electrifying manner this past Sunday.
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Kristen Faulkner’s Race
Kristen Faulkner, at the Summer Olympics in Paris, crosses the finish line in the women’s road cycling event on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024(Wu Huiwo/Pool Photo via AP).
With approximately 3.4 kilometers remaining in the race, Faulkner found herself trailing the Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos and Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky. She was slightly ahead of Hungary’s Blanka Vas. Faulkner was right on Kopecky’s tail when she broke free from the group and surged ahead.
Faulkner then distanced herself further from the group, securing the gold medal with about a minute to spare.
“I cannot articulate the emotions that I am experiencing.” she admitted, “It is a dream come true. The feeling is unparalleled.”
Faulkner’s Winning Strategy
“I understood Kopecky’s intention to catch up with the leading pair, so I anticipated her to ride along with me. Once we caught up, I knew I had to make a move as I lacked the speed to outrun them at the finish line. The best moment to make my move was right after we caught up and everyone was fatigued. I had practiced this late attack several times throughout the year.”
Kristen Faulkner rejoices after winning the women’s cycling event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Previous American Medal Winners
The last American medalists in this event were from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, during the inaugural women’s road race. Connie Carpenter-Phinney and Alexi Grewal took home the gold and silver medals respectively.
Interestingly, Faulkner was not initially set to compete in this event.
Taylor Knibb opted out to concentrate on the triathlon, allowing Faulkner to fill the spot. And she did more than just filling the spot, winning the race.
Faulkner had previously won Omloop van het Hageland and a stage at La Vuelta Femenina.
Kristen Faulkner relishes her gold medal from the women’s road cycling event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
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Attention now shifts to the National Velodrome of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines on Monday.
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