Chloé Dygert has confirmed she will continue to race at the 2024 Paris Olympics despite suffering a high-speed crash during Saturday’s time trial. The American, a gold medal favourite, was only five seconds behind eventual winner Grace Brown of Australia at the first intermediate time check. However, her crash on the rain-soaked city centre course cost her significant time and confidence. She eventually finished 1:32 slower than Brown, with Britain’s Anna Henderson securing the silver medal by one second.
Dygert, visibly in pain, sat on her bike as she moved through the finish area and media zone after the time trial. US national coach Kristin Armstrong confirmed that Dygert’s injury affected the same knee injured in her crash at the 2021 World Championships in Italy. Armstrong expressed confidence that Dygert would still ride in the women’s road race next Sunday and anchor the US women’s team pursuit on the track.
“She’s a competitor and she’s not going to let much take her down. She’s excited for the road race,” Armstrong said of Dygert. “She took the day off but tomorrow she’s going to go out for an easy spin and then on Wednesday we expect her back on the track. She’s planning on riding the road race, she’s looking forward to it.”
Dygert spoke to American television channel NBC about how her crash wrecked her chances of winning a gold medal in the time trial and her determination to bounce back in the road race. “I could either sit here and give up or I could continue on, that’s what I’m going to do,” she told NBC. “I could sit here and pout all day long. Of course I’m mad. We don’t train to lose, we don’t train to stand on any other step but the top step. I’m really hurt.
“But I’m just trusting God’s plan and God’s process here and taking all the strength that he’s giving me to continue on. I’m gonna use that going into Sunday’s race.”
US national coach Armstrong also highlighted Dygert’s resilience, adding, “She’s a competitor and she’s not going to let much take her down. She’s excited for the road race.”
