We assume the whole town knows that Old Lyme’s Austin Hack is the stroke for the US Men’s Eight and will race for gold in Rio next Saturday, but did you know there’s another Olympian at Rio, also with a strong chance to win a gold, who has a strong Old Lyme connection?
Megan Guarnier, the world No. 1 women’s road cyclist, is the niece of Dr. Catherine (Cathy) Burns Nyberg of Old Lyme. Megan is the daughter of Cathy’s sister, Mary Burns, of Glens Falls, N.Y., and hot favorite to win the gold in this coming Sunday’s 80-mile race.
There’s a wonderful full-page story in today’s Wall Street Journal about Megan — she has an interesting history since she went to Middlebury College as a swimmer, but has since morphed into a world-class professional cyclist, who this year has won the famed Giro Rosa race in Italy and the Tour of California, as well as a slew of other major road races all over the world.
And is Cathy Nyberg in Rio to watch her niece? No, she’s up in Glens Falls dutifully taking care of her elderly parents while her sister Mary (Megan’s mother) and numerous others of her seven brothers and sisters are in Rio to cheer Megan to victory.
Go Team USA! Go Megan! And of course, go Austin!