Imagine going from working in venture firms to making history at the Olympics. Yep, that’s what Kristen Faulkner did during the Paris Olympics women’s road race. Her story is something out of a book. She was born and raised in Alaska and then went on to go to Harvard to learn to row. However, it doesn’t stop there. After shifting to New York, she took a job at a venture capital firm and then went on to take cycling classes. And that is where it all started.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” is what Faulkner said during an interview before the Paris Olympics had begun. When she first started taking cycling lessons back in Central Park, she became so addicted to the whole thing that she started competing in local tournaments as well. Not only that, Faulkner went on to quit her job and shift to California to cycle full-time. No wonder Jon Pompliano from The Joe Pomp Show took to X to praise Kristen. “Kristen Faulkner (@FaulknerKristen) has one of the craziest stories at this year’s Olympics,” Pompliano wrote. What makes her appearance at the Olympics more interesting is the fact that she was added to the Team US cycling roster a month before the games began.

Team US had exactly 2 spots for the road race. One of the spots was secured by 2023 World Time Trail champ Chloé Dygert, and the second spot was given out to Taylor Knibb. Now here’s the thing: Knibb already had 4 events ahead of her with the road race and triathlon combined. Because of all this, she withdrew from the race, and the spot went to Faulkner. “I dreamed of competing in the Olympics ever since I was 8 years old,” was something Faulkner mentioned during an interview. Now look at her. Someone who hadn’t even ridden a road bike until 2017 went on to grab gold for Team US.

A rising star

She made history by becoming the second American in 40 years to win gold at a women’s road race. Connie Carpenter-Phinney was the last person to grab a gold for Team US at the race. Carpenter-Phinney even came out to congratulate Faulkner. “It was a beautiful finish,” she said. Carpenter-Phinney went on to explain how proud she was that she finally had someone with whom she could share this special category. However, Carpenter-Phinney wasn’t the only one who sang major praises for Faulkner.

Alaska’s News Source took to YouTube on August 6th to bring out details on what Ken Castner, mayor of the city of Homer (where Kristen was born), had to say about the win. “Faulkner had a unique upbringing. She’s a very, very interested and self-determined person,” Castner mentioned. Castner went on to say that Kristen learned a lot while in Alaska. From accounting to sports, she grew up in a special environment. From a desk job to making podiums, Faulkner’s journey felt like something out of a book.