Leigh Donovan (born December 11, 1971, in
Orange, California
Orange is a city located in North Orange County, California. It is approximately north of the county seat, Santa Ana. Orange is unusual in this region because many of the homes in its Old Town District were built before 1920. While many other ...
) is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
former professional
downhill mountain bike racer and current cycling ambassador and women's
mountain bike clinic instructor.
Cycling career
Donovan was a champion
mountain bike racer, competing from 1993 to 2001, the most decorated U.S. downhill and slalom rider. She retired from her professional career in 2001, with the world championships in Vail, Co. as her final pro career event (where she placed 3rd in the final downhill). Donovan went into sports marketing with Hansens energy drink (at the ground level of what would become Monster Energy). She then went on to own and operate a very successful clothing boutique in Temecula, Ca. from 2003 until she departed the retail fashion business in March 2011.
In 2010, at 38 years of age, a mother of a 5 year old, retail business owner (Tangerine boutique in Temecula, Ca.) and 9 years after retiring from professional racing, Donovan decided to try to make the U.S. National Downhill team. She competed at a few qualifier events and took 4th place at the USA CYCLING National Championships, qualifying her for the UCI World Championships at Mont St. Anne Quebec Canada. Leigh finished 8th place in the finals, was the highest placed American and oldest competitor in the race, Donovan and her daughter carried the flag out at the opening ceremonies
Leigh and her daughter Grace carry the U.S. Flag at opening ceremonies
Donovan married in 2000 and had one daughter in 2005. She has been a long time women's mountain bike coach and instructor for women of all backgrounds and skill levels, promoting and hosting her own women's only events over the last 15 years. In 2014 Leigh launched a coaching and clinic business called iChooseBikes that put the focus on teaching MTB skills to riders of all ages, levels, and genders; Leigh believes that if you can master the foundational skills, that you can shred much longer avoiding injuries.
Leigh Donovan currently is employed with
SRAM_Corporation
SRAM LLC is a privately owned bicycle component manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, founded in 1987. SRAM is an acronym comprising the names of its founders, Scott, Ray, and Sam, (where Ray is the middle name of the company's ...
representing their brand around the world with the shared vision and belief of; "We believe in the power of bicycles and expanding the potential of cycling. We create and manufacture components that inspire cyclists".
Career highlights
• 2020 '
USA Bicycling'' Hall of fame inductee
• 2013 '
BMX'' Hall of fame inductee
• 2014 '
MTB'' Hall of fame inductee
• Only female in both MTB and BMX Hall of fame
• 39 UCI World Cup Podiums
• 9-time U.S.
NORBA
Norba, an ancient town of Latium (''Adjectum''), Italy. It is situated 1 mile northwest of the modern town of Norma, on the western edge of the Volscian Mountains or Monti Lepini. The town is perched above a precipitous cliff with a splendid v ...
National Champion
•
1995 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
The 1995 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships were held in Kirchzarten, Germany from 18 to 19 September 1995. These were the sixth annual UCI world championships in mountain biking and the first to be held in Germany.
Alison Sydor of Canada suc ...
- Downhill World Champion
•
1996 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
The 1996 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships was the 7th edition of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. The events included were cross-country and downhill.
The 1996 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships were the first to be held in A ...
- 2nd place
•
2001 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships- 3rd place
• 2001
UCI World Cup Dual Champion
• 3 time
UCI World Championship medalist
• 1989 USA BMX National Cruiser Champion
• In the 25 years of the official
UCI World Downhill Championships, Leigh is 1 of only 3 American women to have won the title, and the LAST American Female to be crowned.
External links
Official Website of Leigh DonovanSRAM LLC
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donovan, Leigh
1971 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Orange, California
American female cyclists
Downhill mountain bikers
UCI Mountain Bike World Champions (women)
American mountain bikers
21st-century American women