Canadian Cycling hall of fame welcomes trailblazer Way

Author of the article:

Jim Parker • Windsor Star

Published Oct 27, 2023 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute read

Two-time Olympian Kelly-Ann Wa, left, is shown with her father Gordon Way, 89, in LaSalle. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

It will be another honoured ride down memory lane for Windsor’s Kelly-Ann Way.

A two-time Olympian who blazed trails for female cyclists, the 59-year-old Way will be one of four new inductees to the Canadian Cycling hall of fame in a ceremony on Saturday in Bromont, Que.

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“I think it’s nice to be recognized for the accomplishments,” Way said. “It’s nice to see my peers recognize it.”

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Way began cycling when she was 11 under the watchful eye of her father, Don Way, with the Windsor Bicycle Club.

“I still ride with my dad twice a week,” Way said. “He’s 89 and he’s coached me my whole career and it’s nice to still be sharing that aspect. He introduced me cycling.

“I always got words of encouragement from the riders with the Windsor Bicycle Club and I had that support system and I was grateful for it.”

Way began racing in 1977 and won her first provincial road championship two years later. By the age of 17, she won her first national medal.

Way competed in her first of four Tour de France Feminin in 1984 and won the eighth stage. In doing so, she became the first North American to ever win a stage of the event. In 1989, she wore the yellow jersey as race leader for two days before finishing 10th overall.

“I know people put a lot of stock in Olympics, and I’m glad I went, but I think they forget about the other four years,” said Way, who competed for Canada at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. “Those accomplishments, between the Olympics, are rewarding.

“The Tour de France, being the first North American male or female to win a stage, and I never realized that until after and to be the first Canadian to wear the yellow jersey.”

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Way went on to win a silver medal for Canada at the Pan American Game in 1987 in the 3,000-metre pursuit on the track and earned a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 in the individual pursuit.

“I never looked at it as anything negative,” Way said of her commitment to the sport at such an early age. “I started cycling when 11 and it became my life and focus. I had cycling friends and by the time I was18, I was already racing in France and meeting cyclists throughout Europe. I never looked as sacrifice. I like to be active and I enjoyed every moment.”

Over her career, she won four gold medals at the national level and 24 gold medals at the provincial level before retiring in 1993 to focus on duathlons and triathlons.

“All the accomplishments have a special place,” said Way, who was inducted into the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. “I retired and did triathlons and ran marathons, but I think my true passion is the bike.”

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