(WCMH) — To put it simply, U.S. cyclist Chloe Dygert is a winner.
“I show up to win. I don’t train the way I do to get second place,” said Dygert. “I don’t train to just participate, you know, I’m not a participator. I want to I want to win and I want to do everything I can to make sure that happens.”
She’s the reigning world champion in two different events: the individual pursuit on the track and the time trial on the road. The time trial win is especially significant, since it was the same event that nearly took her life in 2020.
“Completely my fault. I just was pushing the limits. And I just ran off the road, hit a guardrail, flipped over, and rolled down the hill,” said Dygert. “I sliced my quad open. I sliced 80% of the quad, partial of my IT band, all the way down to my bone. So it was a long recovery. But it was a big one.”
In the years since, Dygert has not only had to overcome that physical injury, but the mental scars as well. “There were times after my accident that my life didn’t matter to me anymore. You know, there were definitely thoughts of ending it. You know, it happens. It’s truly a blessing to to be alive and to be here right now,” said Dygert.
Through professional help and a positive mindset, Dygert is back on the bike and now, strictly focused on one thing only: winning gold in Paris. “It’s just God’s plan for me, and I’m just I’m so thankful and blessed that it wasn’t worse than it was,” said Dygert. “I mean, it was bad. But I’m here right now, you know, I just qualified for the Olympics. My third Olympics, I’m going to do everything I can to be on that top step. I’ve worked so hard and so many people helped get me there. And this is just a dream come true.”
