Park City native and Team USA mountain biker Haley Batten made history Sunday morning by winning the silver medal in the women’s mountain bike cross-country race at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Batten’s achievement marks the highest Olympic medal in mountain biking ever won by a U.S. athlete, male or female. She finished the race at Elancourt Hill in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Paris, following closely behind gold medalist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of France and ahead of bronze medalist Jenny Rissveds of Sweden.
The cross-country race, held on a challenging 20-mile course, saw Batten making a remarkable climb through the ranks. Starting in 15th place, she moved up to 12th by the end of the first lap. By the end of her second lap, she had advanced to fifth place, and after another lap, she was in fourth. However, her journey was not without obstacles. Approximately halfway through the race, Batten was forced to stop due to a flat tire, losing about 40 seconds and nearly dropping out of the top ten.
Despite this setback, Batten’s determination and skill saw her quickly regain momentum. With a repaired tire, she surged ahead in the next lap, moving up to second place. The final lap saw intense competition from Rissveds, who briefly overtook Batten for the second position. However, Batten managed to reclaim her spot and crossed the finish line minutes after Ferrand-Prévot, with Rissveds following just seconds later.
The race concluded with Ferrand-Prévot securing the gold with a time of 1:26:02, Batten earning the silver at 1:28:59, and Rissveds taking the bronze at 1:29:04.
After the race, an emotional scene unfolded as Batten circled back to meet Rissveds at the finish line. The two athletes embraced behind their handlebars, both smiling, panting, and seemingly in disbelief at their accomplishments.
Batten’s historic silver medal is a significant milestone for U.S. mountain biking, showcasing her resilience and competitive spirit. Her journey from a challenging start to a triumphant finish will be remembered as one of the most inspiring moments of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
