Inga Thompson

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Inga Thompson

| image = Inga Thompson 1988b.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Thompson winning the road race at the 1988 Olympic trials

| fullname =

| height = 178 cm

| weight = 61 kg

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|1|27}}

| birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/th/inga-thompson-benedict-1.html |title=Inga Thompson Olympic Results |accessdate=June 6, 2015 |work=Sports Reference |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720190709/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/th/inga-thompson-benedict-1.html |archivedate=July 20, 2015 }}

| currentteam = Retired

| discipline =

| role = Rider

| ridertype =

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 =

| proteam1 =

| majorwins =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}

}}

Kristin Inga Thompson (born January 27, 1964) is a retired road bicycle racer. She competed at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympics with the best result of eighth place in 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=950|title=All-Time Olympic Results|publisher=USA Cycling|access-date=February 5, 2009|archive-date=May 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513015951/http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=950|url-status=dead}} She won silver medals at the UCI Road World Championships in 1987, 1990 and 1991, and placed third at the Tour de France in 1986 and 1989.{{cite web| url=http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=954|title=Road World Championships Results |publisher=USA Cycling}} Nationally she won United States National Road Race Championships in 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1993.[http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=6005 Inga Thompson-Benedict]. cyclingarchives.com{{cite news| url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1003937/index.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720023032/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1003937/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 20, 2012 | title=A Time Of Trials |publisher=[sports illustrated] | date=June 29, 1992 | accessdate=May 5, 2010}}{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEFD71230F935A15751C1A965958260&sec=&spon=|title=THE YEAR IN REVIEW – 1993; The Year's Champions|publisher=[NY Times] | first=Vincent M. | last=Mallozzi | date=December 26, 1993 | accessdate=May 5, 2010}}

Inga Thompson was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 2014.{{cite web |title=Inga Thompson |url=https://usbhof.org/inductee/inga-thompson/ |website=U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame |access-date=23 May 2023}}

Activism

In 2019 Thompson obtained the signatures of over 80 Olympians on a petition to the IOC to limit women's categories to cisgender women. She maintains that women's voices have been silenced. Thompson continues her work with Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Alison Sydor, Martina Navratilova, Sharron Davies, and many prominent women athletes to advocate for categories separated by sex.{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://womenssportspolicy.org/about-us/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Women's Sports Policy Working Group|language=en-US}}

Also in 2019 Thompson was interviewed for an article opposing participation of transgender women in women's cycling events, and instead advocating for a separate transgender category.{{cite web |title=Male Athletes Are Taking Over Women's Cycling |url=https://savewomenssports.com/original-articles/f/male-athletes-are-taking-over-women%E2%80%99s-cycling |website=Save Women's Sports |access-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212225738/https://savewomenssports.com/original-articles/f/male-athletes-are-taking-over-women%E2%80%99s-cycling |archive-date=12 December 2019 |url-status=dead}} This prompted an outcry from members of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association who called for her removal from the organization's board of directors, as her statements did not align with the policies of the organization.{{cite news |last1=Herron |first1=Elise |title=Oregon Bicycling Racing Association Stands By Board Member Who Criticized Transgender Athletes Participating in the Sport |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2019/12/10/oregon-bicycling-racing-association-stands-by-board-member-who-criticized-transgender-athletes-participating-in-the-sport/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=Willamette Week |date=10 December 2019}} While the board initially voted to retain her as a board member, she resigned 3 days later.{{cite news |last1=Herron |first1=Elise |title=Oregon Bicycling Racing Association Reverses Course, Asks Controversial Board Member to Resign |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2019/12/12/oregon-bicycling-racing-association-reverses-course-asks-controversial-board-member-to-resign/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=Willamette Week |date=12 December 2019}}

The UCI has ruled in July 2023 {{cite web | url=https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/the-uci-adapts-its-rules-on-the-participation-of-transgender-athletes-in/6FnXDIzvzxtWFOvbOEnKbC | title=The UCI adapts its rules on the participation of transgender athletes in international competitions }} that transgender people are not allowed to race in elite women's fields. American pro women’s cycling team Cynisca Cycling has confirmed that the ex-pro American cyclist is no longer on their board of directors. “Ms. Thompson is entitled to her opinions and advocacy, but her methods and personal attacks are inconsistent with Cynisca’s mission to advance opportunities for women. Those methods, well-documented on Ms. Thompson’s social media presence, include dehumanization of transgender people, spreading misinformation, demagoguery, and personal attacks on anyone who opposes her views,” the team said.{{cite web | url=https://www.bicycling.com/news/a43866083/ex-pro-inga-thompson-removed-from-cynisca-team-board/ | title=Ex-Pro Inga Thompson No Longer on Women's Cycling Team Board After Anti-Trans Comments | date=May 11, 2023 }}

Major results

;1984

21st – 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

;1985

13th – World Championships (Road Race)

;1986

3rd – Grande Boucle (Tour de France Feminine)2 Stage Wins Individual Time Trial

;1987

1st – National Championships (Individual Time Trial)
1st – National Championships (Team Time Trial)
2nd – World Championships (Team Time Trial)
2nd – Pan American Games (Road Race)

;1988

1st – National Championships (Road Race)
1st – USCF Olympic Trials (Road Race)
8th – 1988 Summer Olympics
1st – Coors Classic Overall G.C.

;1989

1st – National Championships (Time Trials)
3rd – Grande Boucle (Tour de France Feminine)

;1990

2nd – World Championships (Team Time Trial)
1st – National Championships (Team Time Trials)
1st – National Championships (Individual Time Trial)
1st – Ore-Ida Women's Challenge, Overall G.C., Longest Women's Stage Race in the World (17 stages, {{convert|663|mi}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SXZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fy8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2490%2C2504808 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Thompson wins Ore-Ida |date=July 9, 1990 |page=2B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a5UrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_NAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6346%2C793599 |newspaper=Idahonian |location=(Moscow) |agency=Associated Press |title=Thompson wins Ore-Ida race |date=July 9, 1990 |page=3B}}

;1991