U.S. Olympian Kristen Faulkner never took up cycling seriously until 2016, when she found herself in need of an outdoor hobby. Soon after moving to New York City for a venture capital job, she became passionate about cycling in her spare time.
“Going to Central Park every day and cycling for two hours was a form of relaxation for me, getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” Faulkner told NBC News.
But there were growing pains in the early days.
“I couldn't clip into my bike,” she says, “and I thought, 'Why isn't this working?' I started to get really embarrassed. It turned out the cleats and pedals just didn't fit.”
Eventually her passion for cycling became more than just a hobby and she gradually gained experience in the local racing scene before competing in her first professional race in 2020, an event she won in just four stages.
Encouraged by her success, Faulkner quit her job to compete professionally in Europe, where her highlights include a stage win at the 2021 Women's Tour of Norway and a gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Faulkner, 31, attributes his quick success to his willingness to gather information quickly.
“The physical fitness I gained from rowing and other sports really helped me with cycling,” she says, “and I was also a really good learner.”
For now, Faulkner is fully focused on the Olympics. Growing up in a small town in Alaska, she never dreamed of international glory until watching the 2000 Sydney Games.
“I was watching the Sydney Olympics on TV and thought it was an amazing sight,” she told Global Cycling Network. “At that moment it became my life's goal to compete in the Olympics.”
With just a few weeks to go until the Paris Games, Faulkner is hoping for more than just a medal.
“I want to win an Olympic medal,” she told Olympics.com. “I want to win a world championship in the time trial, and I want to win a stage in the Tour de France. I have big goals, don't you think?”
Lofty goals aside, Faulkner knows her determination has played a big part in getting her to where she is today.
“I want to be honest and use the word 'resilience',” she says. “I've had concussions, I've been hit by a car, and each time, I've never lost the passion to keep going. It's not a question of if, it's a question of how.”
