HOLMGREN DUO MAKE THEIR OLYMPIC DEBUT IN MOUNTAIN BIKING AT PARIS 2024
Paris, FRA (July 29, 2024) – The Holmgren duo of siblings Isabella and Gunnar, from Orillia, ON, completed the XCO mountain bike competitions of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 17th and 30th place respectively on July 28 and 29.
Riding under the sun on the Colline d’Élancourt, just a few kilometers from Paris, Isabella, aged just 19, was not only competing in her very first Olympic Games, but also taking part in her first elite competition.
“I didn’t think I’d be here at the beginning of the year, so competing in the Olympics is great,” said Isabella. “It’s amazing to be here with my brother, it’s our first Olympics and it’s very special to be able to do them together. We have a lot of family who have come to cheer us on, I’m super happy that everyone was able to be here to witness this.”
Photo Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix
The Junior World Mountain Bike and Cyclo-cross Champion completed the seven regulation laps in 1 hour 33 minutes and 43 seconds, seven minutes 41 seconds behind the race leader, French favourite Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The podium was completed by American Haley Batten (+2:57m) in silver and Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds (+3:02m) in bronze.
Once again under a blazing sun, Gunnar, 25, set off on the course the day after his sister’s race, to finish the eight regulation laps eight minutes 35 seconds behind Great Britain’s Thomas Pidcock, who scored his second Olympic victory with a time of one hour 26 minutes and 22 seconds.
“It was a very high level, a hot race, a tough course. It was a tough day, but an amazing day,” said Gunnar. ”It was incredible to have the French and Canadian crowds around us to cheer us on.”
Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
France’s Victor Koretzky (+0.09s) took silver, followed by South Africa’s Alan Hatherly (+0.11s) in bronze.
Further information, including results and a full schedule of events, is available at olympics.com. Competition for Team Canada cyclists continues on July 30 with BMX Freestyle, where Canada will make its Olympic debut, represented by Quebec’s Jeffrey Whaley.
