Hometown: Temecula, Calif.
Date of Birth: 8-18-83
Notes
Sarah is among the favorites to medal in the women's points race as well as the individual pursuit, where she won back-to-back world titles in 2005-06 and captured a silver this year while fighting her way back from a serious back injury in May 2007.
A competitive rider since age nine, Hammer experienced success that was the envy of other riders, winning races easily and capturing medal after medal. But she wasn't having any fun.
"I went for a year and a half not wanting to do it anymore," Hammer said recently in an interview with the Press-Enterprise (California) newspaper. "I was just getting to events and doing what I did without training, just off natural talent. I hated what I was doing."
She sold her bike equipment, signed up for college classes and took a string of side jobs selling cell phones, making bagels and working at a steakhouse. But she didn't realize just how much she missed cycling until she watched the 2004 Olympics and saw riders she had beaten in the past on the podium claiming medals.
After that, she returned to the sport with renewed competitive fire and began turning in one strong performance after another. Watch for her to continue that run in Beijing.
Career Highlights:
- Two-time World Champion, Individual Pursuit (2006-07)
- U.S. Record Holder, Women’s Individual Pursuit
- 20-time USA Cycling National Champion
- 1st place – 2007 UCI Track World Cup, Individual Pursuit
- 1st place – 2007 UCI Track World Cup, Points Race
- 1st place – 2007 UCI Track World Cup, Scratch Race
- 1st place – 2006 UCI Track World Cup, Individual Pursuit
- 1st place – 2006 UCI Track World Cup, Scratch Race
- 2nd place – 2008 UCI Track World Championships, Individual Pursuit
- 2nd place – 2006 UCI Track World Cup, Individual Pursuit
- 3rd place – 2008 UCI Track World Cup, Individual Pursuit
