Chloe Dygert Secures Bronze Medal in Individual Time Trial

PARIS – Cyclist Chloe Dygert made headlines on Saturday by clinching a bronze medal in the individual time trial at the 2024 Olympics. She clocked in at 41 minutes and 10.70 seconds, battling tough competition from Australian Grace Brown, who took the gold, and Great Britain’s Anna Henderson, who secured silver.

Chloe faced a challenging moment during her race when she crashed on a sharp turn over cobblestones just before reaching the second checkpoint. Despite this setback, she bounced back admirably to finish third. This medal is a significant achievement for Chloe, marking her third Olympic medal, following a silver in 2016 and a bronze in 2021, both earned in the women’s team pursuit.

Remarkably, Chloe’s journey to this moment has been filled with adversity. She has overcome multiple injuries, including a severe crash in 2020 that required several surgeries, as well as health issues like heart surgery and a battle with the Epstein-Barr virus. Even during her Olympic training, she had to deal with COVID-19.

The time trial featured 35 competitors and was held at the historic Pont Alexandre III, covering a course of 32.4 kilometers. Next up for Chloe is the women’s road race scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 4. That race will be even tougher, stretching 130-160 kilometers with a deeper field of 90 riders.

In post-race interviews, Chloe expressed how grateful she felt just to be at the starting line. Although she was pleased to have won a medal, she acknowledged that her sights are set on gold. «I don’t show up to a race to lose,» she stated, showing her competitive spirit.

Grace Brown, who announced that this season would be her last, raced confidently to secure the gold medal, finishing the course in 39 minutes and 38.24 seconds. Her victory was bolstered by a strong performance, especially in the latter part of the race.

Chloe noted that she didn’t feel her best during the first part of her race, where she fell behind the leading pack. After trailing at the first checkpoint, she focused on the return route, hoping to use the downhill to regain her speed. Unfortunately, her crash just before the second checkpoint caused her to lose power momentarily.

As Chloe prepares for the upcoming road race and team pursuit events, her current condition is something to consider. «My leg is definitely hurting,» she admitted, but her determination shines through as she plans her next moves in the competition.

The time trial was a scenic affair, starting and finishing at the picturesque Pont Alexandre III, which spans the Seine River. Riders also passed iconic landmarks such as the Notre-Dame cathedral and the column of the Place de la Bastille during the race.