Yolande Speedy

{{short description|South African cyclist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Yolande Speedy

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Yolande Speedy

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|12|30|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.66|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|60|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| currentteam = {{UCI team code|MTN}}

| discipline = Mountain biking

| role = Rider

| ridertype = Cross-country

| amateuryears1 = 2007–2010

| amateurteam1 = IMC Racing Activeworx

| proyears1 = 2011–

| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|MTN}}

| majorwins = 2013 1st Absa Cape Epic Women's Category 2013 1st Absa Cape Epic Mixed Category

| medaltemplates =

| show-medals = yes

}}

Yolande Speedy (born December 30, 1976, in Johannesburg) is a South African professional mountain biker.{{cite sports-reference|title = Yolande Speedy|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/yolande-speedy-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418102827/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/yolande-speedy-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 18 April 2020|access-date = 23 October 2013}} She has claimed two gold medals in the women's elite cross-country race at the African Mountain Bike Championships (2007 and 2013), and also represented her nation South Africa at the 2008 Summer Olympics.{{cite news|title=Buys and Speedy win African Continental Championships|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/african-continental-championships-2013/cross-country/results|publisher=Cycling News|date=11 March 2013|access-date=25 October 2013}}{{cite news|title=Stander, Speedy dominate in KZN Classic|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/cycling/stander-speedy-dominate-in-kzn-classic-1.576172|publisher=Independent Online (South Africa)|date=6 August 2007|access-date=25 October 2013}} In 2007 Speedy competed in the Absa Cape Epic Mixed Category with team mate Paul Cordes, winning the category. She claimed 1st place again in 2013, this time in the Women's Category with team mate Catherine Williamson. Throughout her sporting career, Speedy has been training as an amateur rider for the IMC Racing Activeworx Mountain Biking Team, until she turned professional in 2010 and thereby raced for more than three seasons on {{UCI team code|MTN}}.{{cite news|last=George|first=Sue|title=Stander gets an early start|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stander-gets-an-early-start|publisher=Cycling News|date=7 January 2009|access-date=25 October 2013}}

Speedy qualified for the South African squad, as a lone female rider, in the women's cross-country race at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing by finishing first and receiving an automatic berth from the UCI African Championships and by recording dominant triumphs in the final stage of the Mazda MTN National Cross-Country Series in Nelspruit.{{cite news|title=Stander, Speedy show their Olympic class|url=http://www.supersport.com/Cycling/article.aspx?id=254994|publisher=SuperSport|date=19 May 2008|access-date=25 October 2013}}{{cite news|title=First Olympic teams announced|url=http://www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/MoreSport/First-Olympic-teams-announced-20080423|publisher=News24|date=23 April 2008|access-date=25 October 2013}} With only two laps left to complete the race, Speedy suffered from a heat-related fatigue, and instead decided to pull off directly from the course, finishing only in twenty-second place.{{cite web|title=Women's Cross-Country Race|url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc=CMW021100/standings.html|work=Beijing 2008|publisher=NBC Olympics|access-date=21 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819163252/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc%3DCMW021100/standings.html|archive-date=19 August 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Spitz wins scorcher in Beijing|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/08/olympics/spitz-wins-scorcher-in-beijing_82255|publisher=Velo News|date=22 August 2008|access-date=24 October 2013}}