The woman cyclist has created a lot of firsts for India en route to making a name for herself at the global stage.
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Deborah Herold’s life story will be an inspiration for not only women but also for all struggling athletes. She was one of those people who suffered massively during the 2004 tsunami disaster. When the calamity hit, the young Deborah had to survive a few days on a tree. She did not let her personal struggles come in the way of her professional success as she went on to win multiple medals for India at the global level.
Having born in Andaman and Nicobar in February 1995, Deborah has been residing in Delhi since 2011. She used to be good at high jump and long jump in her school days. A cycling race in her school, made Deborah fall in love with the sport as she took it up with immense passion. After moving to New Delhi, she has been training at the Velodrome in the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.
It was in 2014, Herold received her limelight, winning two Gold medals in the 500-meter time trial and the team sprint at the Herald Track Asia Cup. All of a sudden India had a rider to look up to in cycling as Deborah starting gaining popularity in the country.
Deborah then won five medals at the Taiwan Cup Track International Classic. It included a Gold in the women’s elite sprint category, three Silvers and a Bronze. She also went on to win three medals at the Track India Cup.
Her incredible performances helped Deborah become the first female cyclist from India to reach the fourth place in the UCI individual world ranking. It was the moment that made Herold a household name in Indian cycling.
In a country that lacked world-class cyclers, Deborah’s rise to the top is an achievement in itself. After going through a lot in her young age, she looked for inspiration from former Olympic medallist Kristina Vogel of Germany to help her stay on the right track to fulfil her dream. Her inspirational story will continue to motivate aspiring young cyclists in the country.
