Meet 2016 Olympian Cyclist Megan Guarnier at Annual Dinner Oct. 30

On Megan Guarnier’s USA Cycling profile, her response to her cycling goal is, "To represent the United States of America at the Olympic Games and bring home a medal for the USA.”You are on your way, Megan!Cyclist and Mountain View resident Megan Guarnier earned headlines last month when her third-place finish at the UCI World Championships - the first medal in a road race for the U.S. in 21 years - earned her a spot on Team USA for the 2016 Summer Olympics. A banner year for Megan, she’s been called “the best female cyclist you had never heard of.”.You’ve heard of her now, and you’ll be able to meet her at our Annual Dinner on Friday, October 30 in Palo Alto. Megan will be our featured speaker, in conversation with former Olympian Christine Thorburn and writer, photojournalist Bruce Hildenbrand.Megan’s ascent to the top of the cycling world is interesting, as cycling was not what she first imagined to go to the Olympics for. As she says,"I went to Middlebury College with the intention of swimming; I was a swimmer for 13 years. However, with my shoulder condition, I was spending 1.5 hours in physical therapy every day…With surgery on the horizon not looking like it would produce positive results, I decided it was time to take a step back from swimming. I decided to take up triathlon as I had done a few with my uncle in high school. I knew with triathlon I would only have to get in the pool a couple times per week. As I trained over the winter for triathlon, a person on my freshman hall suggested that I participate in a bike race. I went to the bike race and found that I could do a sport that I loved without getting in the pool! I haven't done a triathlon since!"Do you have questions for Megan that you’d like us to ask her at the Dinner? Send them to us, and join us October 30 in Palo Alto. The Annual Dinner attracts Silicon Valley’s most passionate and well-respected bike advocates and community members in support of a safe and vibrant bike community. Along with Megan, the Dinner includes a silent and live auction and we will be awarding the 2015 Corporate Bicycling Champion and Ellen Fletcher Volunteer Awards.Support SVBC’s mission while also having a fun evening celebrating the accomplishments of our bike community! Buy your tickets today.Megan's Major Cycling Achievements:2015• World Championships Road Race – 3rd• Strade Bianche – 1st• Women’s Tour of New Zealand – 2nd Overall2014• BeNe Ladies Tour – 5th Overall• Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile – 7th Overall• Emakumeen Euskal Bira – 6th Overall• National Road Race Championships – 2nd• National Time Trial Championships – 6th• Pan American Time Trial Championships – 2nd• Pan American Road Race Championships – 3rd• Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs – 9th Overall2013• Boels Ladies Tour – 9th Overall• Emakumeen Euskal Bira – 7th Overall• Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – 2nd2012• Giro Toscana Int. Femminile – 5th Overall• Trophee d’Or Feminin – 4th Overall• National Road Race Championships – 1st• Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs – 7th Overall• La Fleche Wallonne Feminine – 7th• Ronde van Gelderland – 3rd• Le Samyn des Dames – 5th2011• Giro Toscana Int. Femminile – 1st Overall