Connie Carpenter-Phinney

Though not as well-known as many, Connie Carpenter-Phinney is one the greatest female athletes in American sporting history. She won 12 US cycling championships, more than any man or woman in history. She also won four medals at the World Championships in both the pursuit and road race, winning the 1983 individual pursuit title. Her finest moment came in the 1984 Olympic road race, the first ever for women. She outlasted America’s Rebecca Twigg to narrowly win the gold medal in that race. At the finish she “threw” her bike, using a move taught to her by her husband, Davis Phinney, who was a gold medalist at the 1984 Olympics in the team time trial, and later rode professionally for the 7-Eleven team. Carpenter-Phinney also competed in the 1972 Olympics as a speed skater, though she was only 15 at the time. 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. One of her children, Taylor Phinney, has become a top track cyclist, winning the individual pursuit world championship in 2009-10.