In 2004, Lori-Ann Muenzer won an Olympic gold medal for Canada in the women’s Match Sprint finals. It was the first Olympic gold for Canada in cycling.

Apart from reaching the top of the podium in Athens, Muenzer has captured several medals on the international stage including two silver and two bronze at the World Track Cycling Championships and a total of one silver and two bronze at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Last year, Muenzer wrote a book about her experiences as a woman in the world of Olympic cycling called One Gear, No Brakes.

From Amazon.com: “Competitive cycling is about pain, punishment and speed. When 38-year-old underdog Lori-Ann Muenzer entered the 2004 Olympics, few believed that she would be able to compete with cyclists half her age. Muenzer persevered, kept her mind on the track, and won Olympic gold.”

It’s a great read. Check it out.