Leontien van Moorsel

Leontien van Moorsel (born March 22 1970, Boekel) is a Dutch cyclist. She is also known under her married name, Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel.

Related Topics:
March 22 - 1970 - Boekel - Dutch - Cyclist

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Van Moorsel started her professional career in the late 1980s, and soon was one of the best cyclists in the world. She won major races both on the track, and on the road. In the first half of the 1990s, she won the Tour Feminin twice, after fierce competition with her main rival in that time, Jeannie Longo.

Related Topics:
Track - Road - Tour Feminin - Jeannie Longo

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Van Moorsel dropped out of cycling in 1994 because of psychological problems. She suffered from depressions and anorexia nervosa. Together with Michael Zijlaard, whom she married in 1995, she overcame these problems and returned to cycling, although it was not expected she would race at top level any more.

Related Topics:
1994 - Anorexia nervosa - Michael Zijlaard - 1995

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However, she was selected to compete at the World Championships in 1998. Here, at here first major tournament for four years, she surprised everyone by winning the time trial and coming second in the road race. Since then, she has won a number of world titles.

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At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Van Moorsel was one of the most successful athletes. She won gold medals both on the road (road race and time trial), and on the track (3km pursuit). At the 2004 Summer Olympics, she was again one of the favorites in the road race, but she fell in the penultimate lap. Although she was injured, she started in the time trial three days later, and successfully defended her title. With 4 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze Olympic medals, Leontien van Moorsel is one of the most successful Dutch athletes ever.

Related Topics:
2000 Summer Olympics - Sydney - 2004 Summer Olympics

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After her last race at the 2004 Olympics, the individual pursuit, Leontien van Moorsel has retired from professional cycling.

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