"Beijing Olympics may not be my last ride," said French cyclist Jeannie Longo who is taking part in her seventh Olympics in Beijing. Longo started her Olympic career in Los Angeles in 1984 is stretching her record to eight appearances at London 2012. The 49-year-old ex-Olympic champion says she bids farewell to the Games every four years.
"I'm not a liar, but every time, the urge comes back and I resume training and I feel fine," she said.
"This season I told myself 'why not give it another try?' and the training went well."
A road race Olympic champion in 1996 and a time-trial silver medallist in 1988 and 1996, Longo returned once again this season to win three French titles to add to her previous 52 and earn Olympic qualification.
She will not, however, be seen at the Olympic Stadium on Friday, having never taken part in an opening ceremony.
"Road cycling races usually take place early in the Olympic programme and it's nonsense spending three hours standings in a stadium on the eve of competition," she said.
The Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, where she made her debut, was the first year women cyclists were allowed to compete.
Following Beijing, she may consider competing in London almost 30 years after her first Games.
"London could be fun," she said, "and it's not far from home."
The overall record for the number of appearances at an Olympics is held by sailor Hubert Raudaschl of Austria, who competed in nine Games.
Who Is Jeannie Longo
Jeannie Longo was born on October 31, 1958, Longo is a female French racing cyclist, multiple (55 times) French and world champion. Longo is still active in cycling as of 2008 and is widely considered the greatest female cyclist of all time. She is famous for her competitive nature and her longevity in a sport where some of her competitors were not yet born during her first Olympic competition in 1984. She has been selected to compete for France in the 2008 Olympics, her seventh Olympic Games. She has stated that this will be her final participation in the Olympics.
Longo was born in Annecy, in the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps where she began her athletic career as a downhill skier. After winning the French schools' ski championship and three university skiing championships, she switched to cycling at the urging of her coach (and later husband) Patrice Ciprelli. Within a few months, Longo won the French road race Championship. She was 21.
In addition to her sport , Longo distinguished herself in the academic field. She has been awarded academic degrees in Mathematics (B.S.), an MBA, and a doctorate in sports management.
She competes both in road and track bicycle racing events, and is an Olympic gold-medalist and twelve-time world champion.
Her impressive records include:
1. Olympic Games road race: Gold Medal/Champion (1996); Silver Medal (1992)
2. Olympic Games time trial: Silver Medal (1996); Bronze Medal (2000)
3. 5x UCI Road Race World Championship: Gold Medal/Champion (1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1995)
4. 4x UCI Time Trial World Championship: Gold Medal/Champion (1995, 1996, 1997, 2001)
5. 4x UCI Track World Championship:
* Points Race: Gold Medal/Champion (1989)
* 3 km Pursuit: Gold Medal/Champion (1986, 1988, 1989); Silver Medal (1984, 1985, 1987); Bronze Medal (1981, 1982, 1983)
6. UCI Mountain Bike Championship: Silver Medal (1993)
7. 15x French Road Race Champion: 1979 to 1989, 1992, 1995, 2006, 2008
8. 7x French Time Trial Champion: 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008
9. 3x Tour Cycliste Feminin / Grande Boucle: 1987, 1988, 1989
10. 2x Women's Challenge: 1991, 1999
11. Set Hour Record (45.094 km/hr) in 2000 in Mexico City (14 years after setting the best hour performance record)
FYI - Behind Sports
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