USA Cycling and U.S. Paralympics Cycling merge in an historic move ahead of 2028 LA Olympics

by admin June 24, 2025

written by admin June 24, 2025

Starting July 1, 2025, U.S. Paralympics Cycling will merge with USA Cycling, bringing all Olympic and Paralympic cycling under one organisation. This historic move aims to create a more unified, inclusive, and efficient support system for all cyclists in the U.S., enhancing resources, athlete development, and competition opportunities from grassroots to elite levels.

The announcement, made just after Olympic & Paralympic Day, marks a significant shift in how para-athletes are supported in the U.S. Until now, Paralympic cycling operated separately under the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), while USA Cycling governed able-bodied cycling disciplines.

“This is a historic milestone for cycling in the United States,” said Brendan Quirk, CEO of USA Cycling. “By uniting our Olympic and Paralympic programmes, we are building a stronger, more inclusive foundation, giving athletes the same world-class support and resources. We’ll be one team moving forward together toward our ambitions at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.”

“By fully integrating paracycling into USA Cycling’s national and development programmes, we are paving the way for extraordinary growth and opportunity for current and future generations of Team USA athletes,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “We are thankful to USA Cycling for their passion and commitment to this unified approach, which unlocks unparalleled resources, training, and support, empowering paracyclists to excel and represent Team USA for years to come.”

Historically, there has been a significant discrepancy in how able-bodied and paracyclists in the U.S. are funded for international competition. National team cyclists via USA Cycling often have their travel, coaching, equipment, and race expenses covered for major international events like World Championships and the Olympics while paracyclists frequently reported needing to self-fund significant portions of their costs—including travel, lodging, and equipment—for training camps, World Cups, and even the Paralympic Games in some cases.

Three-time Olympian Sarah Hammer-Kroening and veteran sport manager Jenny Ryan will play key leadership roles in guiding the future of paracycling under the USA Cycling umbrella. Ryan, who brings nearly a decade of experience in Paralympic sport operations, will oversee paracycling operations and manage athlete development pathways. Hammer-Kroening, formerly the most decorated track cyclist in U.S. history, transitioned to coaching after retiring in 2017 and has since been an integral part of the U.S. Paralympic Cycling staff through two Paralympic Games. Longtime team mechanic Steve Donovan will also continue supporting athletes at training camps and competitions.

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USA Cycling and U.S. Paralympics Cycling merge in an historic move ahead of 2028 LA Olympics

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