Jeannie Longo facts for kids
Longo in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
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| Born | 31 October 1958 Annecy, France |
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| Team information | |||
| Discipline | Track, Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
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Jeannie Longo, born on October 31, 1958, is a famous French racing cyclist. She is known for winning many races, including 6 French championships and 13 world championships. Longo started her cycling career in 1975 and competed until 2012.
She was once thought to be the best female cyclist ever. Jeannie Longo is famous for her strong competitive spirit and how long she stayed in the sport. When she raced for France in the 2008 Summer Olympics, it was her seventh time at the Olympic Games. Some of the cyclists she competed against in 2008 were not even born when she first went to the Olympics in 1984.
In the Women's road race at the 2008 Olympics, she finished 24th. She was just 33 seconds behind the winner, Nicole Cooke. At the same Olympics, she came in 4th place in the road time trial. She was only two seconds away from winning a bronze medal. Jeannie Longo has won four Olympic medals in total, including one gold. This makes her one of France's top female Olympic medal winners.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Jeannie Longo was born in Annecy, a town in the French Alps. This area is known for its beautiful mountains.
Cycling Career Highlights
Longo first started as a downhill skier. She won several French school and university skiing championships. Her coach, Patrice Ciprelli, who later became her husband, encouraged her to try cycling.
Just a few months after switching to cycling, Longo won the French road race Championship. She was 21 years old at the time. She competed in both road cycling and track cycling events. She is an Olympic gold medalist and has won thirteen world championships.
Major Achievements and Wins
Jeannie Longo has an impressive list of wins throughout her long career. She has won many different types of races. This includes long stage races, one-day races, and time trials.
Track Cycling Successes
Longo showed great skill in track cycling. She won several world championships in the individual pursuit. This is a race where two riders start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch each other.
- 1986: Won the UCI Track World Championship (Individual pursuit)
- 1988: Won the UCI Track World Championship (Individual pursuit)
- 1989: Won the UCI Track World Championship (Points race)
- 1989: Won the UCI Track World Championship (Individual pursuit)
- 1998: Won the French Track Pursuit Championships
Mountain Bike Racing
Jeannie Longo also competed in mountain biking. In 1993, she earned a silver medal. This was at the UCI Mountain Bike Championship.
Road Cycling Victories
Longo's road cycling career is filled with many victories. She won the French Road Race Championship many times. She also won multiple World Road Race Championships.
- 1985: Won the World Road Race Championships
- 1986: Won the World Road Race Championships
- 1987: Won the World Road Race Championships
- 1989: Won the World Road Race Championships
- 1995: Won the World Road Race Championships
- 1996: Won the Olympic Road Race
- 1997: Won the World Time Trial Championships
- 2001: Won the World Time Trial Championships
She also won the French Road Race Championship in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 2006, and 2008.
Images for kids
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Longo about to start the time trial stage of the 2001 Women's Challenge
See also
In Spanish: Jeannie Longo para niños
- List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games
