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Former state woman now Olympic historyBy Steve Wilstein Associated PressMISSION VIEJO, Calif. - One daring leap - a tricky maneuver called “throwing the bike — capped 30,000 miles of training, a million dreams and a masterpiece of strategy for Connie Carpenter-Phin-ney in her history-making cycling victory.That airborne surge across the finish line Sunday after 49 miles made Carpenter-Phinney, of Boulder, Colo., and formerly of Madison, the first American champion of the 1984 Olympic Games and the winner of the first-ever women’s road cycling race.It ended a drought of 72 years without an American medal in road cycling and, as Carpenter-Phinney said, may help the sport of cycling “snowball into the big-time in the United States.Carpenter-Phinney’s parents, Charles and Darcy of Maple Bluff, Wis., said corks flew from champagne bottles when their daughter took the gold.‘ A couple of friends brought some champagne over right after the race, Mrs. Carpenter said Sunday. “People have been dropping in and out.The momentum was picked up later in the day by Alexi Grewal, 23, who cockily thrust his arms into the air five yards from the finish line as he outdueled Canadian Steve Bauer down the stretch to win the gold in a grueling 118-mile race on the same course.Throughout Europe, and especially . in France where millions each year watch the Tour de France, cycling is among the most popular sports.In the United States, however, it has had little more appeal than marathon running had 15 years ago. It took an Olympic gold medal by Frank Shorter in 1972 — the first by an American since 1908 — to propel the marathon to the immense popularity it now enjoys.The triumphs by Grewal and Carpenter-Phinney and a silver medal by teammate Rebecca Twigg inthe 92-degree heat of the Southern Californian desert could do the same for road cycling.Cyclists from around the country, some of whom rode thousands of miles on sleek racing bikes costing more than $1,000, were among the 200,000 spectators lining the hilly course. Wave after wave of cheers and chants of “U-S-A greeted the cyclists at every turn.“It was unbelievable, said Carpenter-Phinney, who, at 27, was 10 years older than two of her competitors. “There was so much support that they literally push you over the hill.Carpenter-Phinney, a member of the U.S. Olympic speedskating team in 1972, wasn’t always a cycling enthusiast. She switched to the sport only after injuring her ankle in 1976. Since then, she has been, in her own words, “a pioneer of women’s cycling. But she also has been a rebel.She quit cycling in 1980 because she felt there was “nowhere to go, and lambasted the U.S. Cycling Federation for its poor development program.“I didn’t really see much support for women’s cycling,” she said. “Then in 1981, the Olympics announced that they would hold the women’s race this year, and we picked up a lot of corporate sponsorship. .With the new goal of the Los Angeles Games and the influence of high-ranking sprint cyclist Davis Phinney, who would later become her husband, Carpenter-Phinney got back on her bike.Ever since, they have been training more than 10,000 miles a year each for these Games. They married last October and settled in Boulder, Colo., training together on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.Carpenter-Phinney, who uses her maiden name most of the time but added “-Phinney on the Olympics entry form “because I wanted people to know I’m married, began practicing last month the move that won the gold medal.Pace settersU.S. cyclist Connie Carpenter-Phinney, center, stands with teammate Rebecca Twigg, left, and Sandra Schumacher atop the winners stand Sunday during medal ceremonies following theAP Laserphotowomen's 79-kilometer Olympic cycling road race in Mission Viejo, Calif. Carpenter-Phinney, formerly of Madison, received the gold, Twigg the silver.
Newspaper Details
Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
Mon, Jul 30, 1984
Page 13
Full Page
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WI, USA 30 Jul 2024
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