Marty Nothstein facts for kids

Marty Nothstein (born February 10, 1971) is a famous American former professional road bicycle racer and track cyclist. He is known for winning many awards in cycling. Marty won three world championships in track cycling. He also earned both a gold and a silver medal at the Olympic Games. After his cycling career, Nothstein also served as a public official in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

Early Life and School

Marty Nothstein was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was one of five children in his family. His father, Wayne Nothstein, owned a local car business. Interestingly, Marty's great-grandfather was also a skilled bicycle racer.

Marty went to Emmaus High School in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1989. After high school, he attended Penn State University.

Marty's Cycling Career

Marty Nothstein started cycling in 1987. He made his first international appearance in 1989. This was at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Lyon, France.

World Championship Wins

Marty won his first world championship medal in 1993. It was a silver medal in the keirin event. In 1994, he became a double world champion. He won both the sprint and keirin events at the World Championships. He achieved this even though he had a broken heel bone! In 1995, Marty rode with another fractured bone, his kneecap. Despite this, his U.S. sprint team won a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Olympic Medals

Marty Nothstein represented the United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. There, he won a silver medal in the cycling sprint event. Four years later, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, he made history. He became the first American cyclist in 16 years to win an Olympic Games gold medal. He won it in the Olympic cycling sprint.

Professional Cycling Teams

In March 2001, Marty became a professional cyclist. He joined the U.S.-based Mercury Viatel team. The next year, in 2002, he moved to the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team. He stayed with this team for four years. Marty ended his professional cycling career in 2006. In 2004, he lost 30 pounds to switch from track cycling to road riding.

After Cycling

After the 2006 season, Marty Nothstein retired from competitive cycling. He then tried a new sport: drag racing. He drove a NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car for a team called Follow A Dream.

In 2007, Marty won two races in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. He finished 11th in points in the 2007 NHRA Alcohol Funny Car season.

Public Service and Other Roles

After his racing career, Marty Nothstein became involved in public service. He served as a Commissioner for Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. In 2017, he announced he would run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He ran as a candidate for the Republican Party in 2018. He did not win the election for the 7th or 15th congressional districts in Pennsylvania.

Major Achievements

World Championships

• 3-Gold Medals – Keirin (1996), Sprint and Keirin (1994)
• 2-Silver Medals – Match Sprint (1996), Keirin (1993)
• 2-Bronze Medals – Keirin, (1997), Team Sprint (1995)

U.S. National Championships

• 34-Gold Medals

See also

In Spanish: Marty Nothstein para niños

• List of World Championship medalists in men's keirin