Erika SALUMAE

Erika Salumäe came to sports late; she took up cycling in 1981 and made the Soviet national team in 1984. In addition to her major titles she was Soviet champion in 1985, 1987, and 1988. She set 15 world records for the 200 metres (flying start) and 1,000 metres time trial from a standing start. In 1992 she won the first gold medal for Estonia after its restoration as an independent nation. Between 1981 and 1989, Salumäe won 14 medals at the World Championships, 10 of them gold. Nine times between 1983 and 1996 she was voted Athlete of the Year in Estonia.