Former World Champion and Tokyo Olympic Medalist Katie Zaferes They had seemed destined to miss out on qualification for Paris 2024, but a strong finish at the WTCS in Cagliari gave them a chance of competing.
The Maryland native, who won a bronze medal in the individual event and a silver medal in the mixed team relay three years ago, finished 12th in the final Olympic qualifying event in Sardinia on Saturday.
Americans finish second Taylor NibWith Zaferes already qualified for Paris, could this result be crucial when the U.S. selection committee picks its two discretionary athletes next month?
“The Last Blue Carpet”
Zaferes took some time away from competition to give birth to her first child, but returned to the starting line last year and had to fight hard to start racing at the highest level.
In 2023, Zaferes competed in WTCS events in Abu Dhabi, Cagliari, Montreal, Hamburg, Paris and Pontevedra, finishing 17th in the WTCS rankings and 5th in the American rankings in his first full season since returning.
Fast forward to this month and the 34-year-old missed out on the main selection race for the U.S. national team, the World Cup in Yokohama, but could have made up for it on the “final blue carpet of Olympic qualifying” in Cagliari.
“I finished 12th today and 2nd in the U.S.,” she said. “I did some things really well and some things didn’t live up to my own expectations. I’m proud of how I performed for the most part. I came away knowing I did all I could today, but at the same time, I know I can still do better.”
Find hidden gems
Despite feeling like he fell short of expectations in some areas, Zaferes said he was happy with his performance, adding that he hopes this journey will one day serve as an inspiration for his son, Kimble.
“All of the races that will be considered for Olympic team selection are finished, so it’s a relief to know that. I’m very happy to be part of a really strong U.S. Women’s National Team.”
“Whatever the outcome, I’m proud that I was able to return after giving birth to Kimble, and I hope that one day he will pursue dreams that aren’t easy, dreams that sometimes seem impossible, and sometimes that are within reach.”
“Whatever the outcome, I hope he’s grateful for the journey and knows that it’s where many of the hidden treasures can be found.”
Team USA’s dark horse?
While no other riders were able to join Knibb in securing a spot on the U.S. team at the WTCS in Yokohama, Taylor Spivey and Carsten Kasper are hopeful that their fourth and fifth place finishes will earn them a spot on the Paris circuit.
However, the selection committee will have to take into account the fact that Zaferes beat both of them in Cagliari and also outperformed Kasper at last year’s Paris test tournament.
Given recent form, Zaferes could well have the advantage over Kaspar: in head-to-head action, Zaferes has beaten his compatriot in five of the last seven races since the 2023 WTCS Cagliari.
With Knibb certain to compete and Spivey almost certain to compete given his consistency in the upcoming Olympic cycle, the final spot on the sport’s most competitive team is likely to be narrowed down to either Kasper or Zaferes.
