Country: USA
Sport: Cycling Track
Date of Birth: 12/24/1994
First Olympics: 2016, Rio
Growing up, Jennifer Valente rode BMX and mountain bikes around her San Diego neighborhood. When she was 13 though, Valente gave track cycling a try at a local velodrome and by the next summer, the California native reached the podium three times at the 2009 USA Cycling Juniors and Paracycling Track Natinoal Championships. While attending the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Valente competed in the 2013 USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championships, earning three second place finishes – in the sprint, points race and flying time trial – and a third place finish in the individual time trial. The following year, the 5-foot-9 cyclist placed first in omnium at the USA Cycling Elite National Championships.
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