Lima 2019 Pan Am Games - Day 7 - Source: Getty — Chloe Dygert pictured at the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games (Source: Getty)

"I'm not going to be a sore loser" - Chloe Dygert gives an update about her injury following Paris Olympics 2024 disappointment and more

Modified Jul 27, 2024 17:27 GMT

World champion Chloe Dygert may have lost the gold medal that seemed to be going her way, but the American was very generous and gracious even in her defeat.

The treacherous and slippery conditions made things tough for cycling in the Women’s Time Trial. She refrained from offering any excuses as the gold medal went to Australia’s Grace Brown and the silver went to Anna Henderson of Great Britain.

Despite the medal only being a bronze, Dygert declared to the media, including Sportskeeda:

"I'm not going to be a sore loser, but everybody shows up to win and everybody here who isn't on that top step is probably going to say the same thing. We want to win. We don't want to lose, but you know, we're going to be appreciative and supportive to all the riders. It’s just how it is, the one rider is going to be better than the other on the day. That's just how it goes. I've just got to get better.”

She also hoped she would be back for the road race next weekend despite the injuries she suffered.

"We saw there's a little nick on my helmet. I do remember smacking my head. For sure, my leg. It's the only thing that I'm paying attention to right now. So obviously we'll do a full medical check-up and everything. My leg definitely is hurting."

On being back for the road race, Dygert added:

"I hope so, it just depends on my health. We still have a long season to go, and we're just going to take care of my body and then hope for the best and just trust in God's plan."

A good number of riders took a toss and that included Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky and Taylor Knibb. Dygert said:

"I just didn't set it up right. I slid out right into it. [It was] my fault. I like this weather, I like this temperature, so I can't complain too much about anything."

Chloe Dygert did admit that she found it tough to keep track of the time differences during the race:

"The crowds were so loud, I actually had a lot of trouble hearing my radio. I did hear the first time check. I was five seconds down at that point. The first three minutes I knew my legs weren't fabulous, so I was a little worried."

"I knew on the way back it was a little bit more downhill and I thought I could use that to my advantage, and then I had a little crash and I don't know how much it actually affected me," she added.

Yet, she did a great job getting up and making her way back into contention and grabbed a bronze.

"It was hard. I had a little bit of adrenaline in me, luckily, but I could definitely tell right away. I smacked my leg on my frame, so the spasms and things were kind of going on in the leg," Chloe Dygert said. "I could tell that there were moments where I just lost a little bit of power. Again, that's no excuse to finishing third."

Dygert also gave a lot of credit to the gold medallist Grace Brown and silver medallist Henderson.

"Those two girls ahead of me are amazing athletes, amazing riders. I would not take away anything from them today. What an amazing way for Grace to end up her last year racing. Anna, strong ride.”

On the ups and downs of the past four years, Chloe Dygert said:

“I'm really happy to be here. I'm really grateful to be here. It's been a long road to get back to the Olympics, so I'm just very thankful. This has just been a true blessing and (I’m) grateful for all the support and everybody to get me across that line."