Yolande Speedy

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 Assos.[4]

Yolande Speedy
Personal information
Full nameYolande Speedy
Born (1976-12-30) 30 December 1976
Johannesburg, South Africa
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Team information
Current teamTeam Qhubeka Assos
DisciplineMountain biking
RoleRider
Rider typeCross-country
Amateur team
2007–2010IMC Racing Activeworx
Professional team
2011–Team Qhubeka Assos
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
  1. 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.
  2. "Buys and Speedy win African Continental Championships". Cycling News. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  3. "Stander, Speedy dominate in KZN Classic". Independent Online (South Africa). 6 August 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  4. George, Sue (7 January 2009). "Stander gets an early start". Cycling News. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. "Stander, Speedy show their Olympic class". SuperSport. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  6. "First Olympic teams announced". News24. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  7. "Women's Cross-Country Race". Beijing 2008. NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  8. "Spitz wins scorcher in Beijing". Velo News. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2013.


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