Throwback Thursday – First-ever Women’s Olympic XC Mountain Bike Race Podium winners in 1996: Allison Sydor, Paola Pezzo, and Susan DeMattei.
In 1996, Susan DeMattei made history as the first American woman to medal in Olympic mountain biking, snagging bronze in the debut XC race at the Atlanta Games. Her grit and determination helped pave the way for generations of female shredders. A year later, she earned her spot in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, and by 2012, she was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame—securing her legacy as one of the greats. Here’s to the trailblazers who got us here!
