Kristen Faulkner achieved something remarkable for Team USA at the Olympics, capturing a gold medal in the women’s cycling road race, a feat last accomplished in 1984.
On Sunday, Faulkner’s victory was nothing short of dramatic. With around 3.4 kilometers remaining, she trailed behind Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos and Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, while Hungary’s Blanka Vas followed closely. Positioned just behind Kopecky, Faulkner seized her moment, surging ahead of the group.
She then distanced herself and secured the gold medal with a lead of about a minute. Describing the experience, Faulkner said, “It’s a dream come true, the best feeling in the world. It’s hard to put into words.”
“I knew Kopecky would try to catch the leaders, so I stuck with her. Once we caught up, I knew I had to attack because I couldn’t out-sprint them. The ideal time to make my move was when everyone was exhausted after the catch. I had practiced this late attack several times this year.”
The last time Americans medaled in this event was at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles when Connie Carpenter-Phinney and Alexi Grewal claimed gold and silver.
Interestingly, Faulkner wasn’t originally slated to compete. She took over when Taylor Knibb withdrew to focus on triathlon, seizing the opportunity and delivering a gold-medal performance. Faulkner’s accomplishments this year also include winning Omloop van het Hageland and a stage at La Vuelta Femenina.