Brains In The Lanes
If you were following Tokyo 2020 in the news, you might have seen a headline about an Austrian athlete getting an Olympic gold in cycling, but with an unrelated profession.
30-year-old Anna Kiesenhofer, a mathematician with two degrees and a Ph.D., was herself surprised by her victory. And the thing that makes most people raise their eyebrows is that she made it to the finish line, the 137-kilometer ride, by herself. In some sports, competitions are between individuals, like swimming, while others are between teams, like in soccer. Though cycling gives medals to individuals, usually, there’s a team behind them, teammates, coaches, all helping the cyclist complete the journey. However, Kiesenhofer didn’t have a team, not even a coach giving directions. So how did she do it? Well, she used her career as an advantage. She monitored small details like her heart rate and temperature. She even started to monitor the weather in Tokyo more than a year before the Olympics. Using all this data, she constructed a customized workout. That included how far to cycle, her speed, and breaks between segments. With this new routine, Kiesenhofer started to practice.
Then came the day of the road race, in temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius. Surprisingly, there were only 67 riders, not that it mattered too much. As the race started, many tried to take the lead but fell short. With around 40 km to go, Kiesenhofer lead Van Vleuten of the Netherlands by five minutes and the majority by six. The race finished with Van Vleuten finishing 1:15 behind Kiesenhofer. However, Van Vleuten didn’t realize that she came second. She was celebrating that she had won the gold. It was only later that she got told she got beaten to it. Even though it was only more than a minute, this is already a significant gap in terms of cycling. Usually, there would be at least two cyclists competing who would reach the finish line first. Kiesenhofer did it by using a different method. She started to leave the group and charge ahead early, opening a big gap, making it harder for others to catch up.
Kiesenhofer’s behavior has just as well fulfilled the Olympic spirit. And what is this spirit? It is not just to continue, to fight to the last. It is to follow your own path, to make your own mark. And that is what we should all do. Kiesenhofer didn’t play in the usual way. It was more than just a sport to her, a race. It was an interest, a hobby. “I’m not the kind of cyclist who is only pushing the pedals; I’m also the mastermind behind my performance,” she said. “I’m also proud of that.”
What you should know is that almost anything could be possible if you at least tried. Never give up. Cogito, achieve. When things are seemingly impossible, a bit more effort could result in a breakthrough. As in the words of Chief Editor Tigger, “Brains in the lanes.” That is a production from the New News Newsminute. Thank you, and tune in next time for more global updates.