Dygert's early career was shaped by her family. Her father and older brother have been the most influential figures in her career. She also looks up to US cyclist Kristin Armstrong, German cyclist Ina Tuetenburg, and US middle-distance runner Steve Prefontaine.

Professional Journey

She joined the Twenty16 Pro Cycling team in the United States and has been coached by Kristin Armstrong since 2016. Her dedication to the sport is evident from her achievements and the challenges she has faced along the way.

Injuries and Recovery

Dygert has had her share of injuries. In 2014, she injured her anterior cruciate ligament while playing basketball. In 2017, she suffered a torn labrum in her hip and a bulging disc in her back. She also had surgery on a knee injury in December 2018 and sustained a concussion at the 2018 Tour of California.

In 2020, she required surgery on a laceration to her left leg after a crash at the World Championships in Imola, Italy. Despite these setbacks, she has continued to excel in her sport.

Achievements

Dygert has represented the United States in both road cycling and track cycling. She won gold at the world championships in both disciplines. At age 22 years and 266 days, she became the youngest female rider to win the individual time trial title at the world championships in Yorkshire, England, in 2019.

Focus for Tokyo

As of now, Dygert is focusing on the individual time trial and track cycling ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games. She may switch to road races in the future. "I would love to race in Europe," she said. "But my goals are the time trial and doing track events."

Personal Life

Outside of cycling, Dygert enjoys spending time with her cats and listening to music. She listens to music ahead of her races as part of her pre-race routine. Her sporting philosophy is inspired by Steve Prefontaine: "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

Remembering Kelly Catlin

Dygert competed in track cycling with Kelly Catlin, who took her own life in March 2019. The US team honours Catlin by talking about her and keeping her memory alive. "We might as well make it as best as we can," Dygert said.

Dygert's journey is a testament to resilience and dedication. Her focus on upcoming events shows her commitment to achieving more milestones in her career.