A Vernon woman just completed an extraordinary, mind-bending race across the United States.
Leah Goldstein placed fourth at the Race Across America, which is a 4,800 kilometre bike epic that begins in Oceanside, California and ends in Annapolis, Maryland.
The five-day event was won by Isa Pulver of Switzerland, with a time of nine days, 12 hours and 16 minutes.
The 54-year-old Goldstein won the event outright in 2021. This year, she was bested in the women’s division only by Pulver. The Vernon locals time was, unofficially, 10 days, 10 hours and 35 minutes, for an average speed of 19.5 km/h.
Born in Vancouver but raised in Israel, Goldstein has had a slew of athletic accomplishments throughout her life. In 1989, she won the World Bantamweight Kickboxing Champion, and was the national Duathlon champion in Israel.
Her 2021 conquest at the Race Across America was the first time a female cyclist had ever won the event.
The Race Across America can be contested solo or with a team, and has been dubbed the world’s toughest bicycle race. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
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