US Olympians share what music is on their playlists
What music drives Olympians to greatness? Team USA gives a glimpse into what they’re listening while training for the Paris Olympic Games.
Magnus Sheffield grew up in Pittsford, and became a professional cyclist as a teenager.
He is a veteran of three seasons on what is called the World Tour. And the 22-year old graduate of The Harley School might stick around in the highest level of professional cycling after signing a two-year contract extension with INEOS Grenadiers.
His career is on an upward trend, as he is regarded as one of the best American cyclists.
And when Sheffield launches himself into the 2024 Paris Olympics road cycling time trials July 27, it becomes “close to five times” he has represented the United States. These are his first Olympic Games.
More: How to watch Pittsford’s Magnus Sheffield at Olympic road cycling? Channel, streaming
“It’s definitely humbling,” Sheffield said. “I think about the time when I first started, not far from my house at the YMCA and around Bushnell Basin.
“It’s been a childhood goal of mine since I can remember. Growing up, I think the Winter Olympics was the dream (because he competed as a skier).”
How common is it for someone to not only turn pro at a young age, but have a place in the elite-level World Tour?
“Historically, it’s not very common at all. There were a few individuals (Remco Evenepoel, Quinn Simmons) that created a pathway. Now you see people go straight from the junior category to the professional category. It’s not like football where you have to go to college. It’s more like the NHL (National Hockey League) where you can go from the juniors to the NHL.
“Since Chris Froome, the age of the winner of the Tour de France has been going down.”
Does your family still live in Pittsford, and how often do you see them or return there, given the World Tour season is from January to October?
“Not as much as I would like to, once or twice a year for about a week.”
Where do you call home?
“Home is always a hard one. We travel quite a bit. It’s hard to say one place is actually home. We probably spend 130 nights in a hotel. It’s wherever.”
“In an average week, it can range from 20 to more than 30 hours on the bike training. That does not include going for a run or anything in the gym.”
“Netflix has done a very good job of showing what the Tour de France is all about. Unchained is a good insight into what cycling is, what it means and stands for in the European environment.”
Sheffield said he is also fluent in Norwegian, and can speak “a little bit” of Spanish and French.
Can you see yourself at another Olympics?
“I’m very proud to be Norwegian, (Norway) is where is my mother is from. There is a possibility I could represent Norway in another. I’m very proud to represent the US.”
“It’s very special. In cycling, we don’t get to represent our country, because we are representing a team like the Yankees or Red Sox as examples.”
James Johnson, who grew up in the city of Rochester and is a graduate of Edison Tech in the Rochester City School District, has worked as a full-time journalist covering high school sports for the Democrat and Chronicle since 1996. Follow him @jjDandC on X (Twitter). You can contact him at [email protected]
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Publish date : 2024-07-26 19:00:58
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