Connie CARPENTER

Connie Carpenter-Phinney holds the distinction as the first women cyclist to win an Olympic gold medal, which she did in winning the 1984 road race, the first Olympic cycling event for women. But as Connie Carpenter, this was 12 years after her first Olympic appearance, which came in speed skating at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, when she was only 14-years-old. Carpenter was US national overall champion in speed skating in 1976, but injuries prevented her from competing at the 1976 Winter Olympics. She then turned primarily to cycling and won multiple titles, highlighted by a 1983 World Championship gold medal in the individual pursuit, after she had finished second in that event in 1982.

On the road, Carpenter won silver in the 1977 World Championships and a bronze in the 1981 Worlds. Carpenter-Phinney won 12 U.S. cycling championships, more than any man or woman in history. Her other major cycling victories included the 1977 Tour of Fitchburg and two victories at the Coors Classic (1977, 1982). In addition she rowed for the University of California in the national collegiate championships, winning an NCAA Championship in the 1980 coxless fours. Carpenter married Davis Phinney, an American professional cyclist known for his sprint, which enabled him to probably win more races than any American cyclist ever in the professional peleton. One of their children, Taylor Phinney, became a top track cyclist, winning the individual pursuit world championship in 2009-10, and later turned to the roads, racing several times in the Tour de France, in addition to his Olympic appearances.