Nicole Reinhart facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nicole Reinhart |
| Born | June 3, 1976 United States |
| Died | September 17, 2000 (aged 24) |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road & Track |
| Role | Rider |
Nicole Louise Reinhart (born June 3, 1976 – died September 17, 2000) was an amazing American professional cyclist. She was known for her speed on both track and road bicycle races. Nicole won gold medals twice at the Pan American Games, showing how talented she was.
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Nicole's Early Life
Nicole grew up in Macungie, Pennsylvania. Even when she was young, she was a super athlete! She won nine national championships for junior cyclists (under 18) with USA Cycling. While studying at Emmaus High School in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, she also won three U.S. fitness championships. She was a star on her school's cross-country and track teams.
Pan American Games Success
After finishing high school in 1994, Nicole focused completely on cycling. This decision paid off big time! She won two national championships for elite track cyclists. She also earned two gold medals at the Pan American Games, which are like a mini-Olympics for countries in the Americas.
In 1999, Nicole joined the Saturn Women's Professional Cycling Team. She won nine races that year, and then an incredible 13 more races in 2000! She was truly a rising star in the cycling world.
Remembering Nicole Reinhart
Sadly, Nicole's life was cut short on September 17, 2000. She was competing in a bicycle race in Arlington, Massachusetts. During the race, her bicycle pedal hit a concrete curb. This caused her to fall off her bike and hit a tree.
Nicole had won the three races leading up to this final event. The organizers had offered a huge prize of $250,000 to any rider who won all four races. After her death, this prize money was given to her family.
Her family then started the Nicole Reinhart Foundation in Macungie, Pennsylvania. This foundation helps support young cyclists and promotes bicycle safety. A park at the Cutter School in Arlington, Massachusetts, was also named in her honor in 2001.
In 2004, Nicole was honored for her amazing career. She was added to the Lehigh Valley Velodrome Hall of Fame in Breinigville, Pennsylvania. This means her achievements will always be remembered.
Nicole's Major Cycling Wins
Nicole had many impressive wins during her cycling career. Here are some of her top achievements:
2000 Achievements
- 1st place at the Clarendon Cup
- 1st place at the BMC Software Tour of San Jose
- 1st place at the BMC Software Tour of Houston
- 1st place at the BMC Software Downtown Criterium in Austin, Texas
- 1st place in the Prologue of the Redlands Bicycle Classic
1999 Achievements
- 1st place at the Clarendon Cup
- 1st place in Stage 3 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic
1998 Achievements
- 1st place in the Prologue of the Redlands Bicycle Classic
- 1st place in the Women's 3 km Scratch Race at the EDS Spring Classic
- 1st place in the Women's Miss and Out race at the EDS Spring Classic
1996 Pan American Games
- 1st place in the Women's 500 m Sprint
- 1st place in the Road race
Junior National Championships
Nicole was a multiple-time national champion as a junior cyclist:
- 1994: Junior Women Track Champion (2000m TT) and Junior Women Road Champion (Criterium)
- 1993: Junior Women Track Champion (Points Race, Sprints) and Junior Women Road Champion (Criterium)
- 1992: Junior Women Track Champion (Omnium) and Junior Women Road Champion (Criterium, Road)
U.S. National Records
Nicole also set a U.S. national record:
- 11.666 seconds – Junior Women Track Time Trial Flying Start (200 m), set in Quito, Ecuador, on July 26, 1994. (This record has since been broken.)
