Yolande Speedy (born December 30, 1976, in Johannesburg) is a South African professional mountain biker.[1] She has claimed two gold medals in the women's elite cross-country race at the African Mountain Bike Championships (2007 and 2013), and also represented her nation South Africa at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[2][3] In 2007 Speedy competed in the Absa Cape Epic Mixed Category with team mate Paul Cordes, winning the category. She claimed 1st place again in 2013, this time in the Women's Category with team mate Catherine Williamson. Throughout her sporting career, Speedy has been training as an amateur rider for the IMC Racing Activeworx Mountain Biking Team, until she turned professional in 2010 and thereby raced for more than three seasons on Team Qhubeka NextHash.[4]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Yolande Speedy |
| Born | 30 December 1976 Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 60 kg (132 lb) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Team Qhubeka NextHash |
| Discipline | Mountain biking |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Cross-country |
| Amateur team | |
| 2007–2010 | IMC Racing Activeworx |
| Professional team | |
| 2011– | Team Qhubeka NextHash |
| Major wins | |
| 2013 1st Absa Cape Epic Women's Category 2013 1st Absa Cape Epic Mixed Category | |
Speedy qualified for the South African squad, as a lone female rider, in the women's cross-country race at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing by finishing first and receiving an automatic berth from the UCI African Championships and by recording dominant triumphs in the final stage of the Mazda MTN National Cross-Country Series in Nelspruit.[5][6] With only two laps left to complete the race, Speedy suffered from a heat-related fatigue, and instead decided to pull off directly from the course, finishing only in twenty-second place.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Yolande Speedy". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Buys and Speedy win African Continental Championships". Cycling News. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Stander, Speedy dominate in KZN Classic". Independent Online (South Africa). 6 August 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ George, Sue (7 January 2009). "Stander gets an early start". Cycling News. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Stander, Speedy show their Olympic class". SuperSport. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "First Olympic teams announced". News24. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Women's Cross-Country Race". Beijing 2008. NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ "Spitz wins scorcher in Beijing". Velo News. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
External links
edit- NBC 2008 Olympics profile
- Yolande Speedy at Cycling Archives (archived)
- Yolande Speedy on Twitter
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