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Fort Lee Mom Hopes To Cycle Into World Games Again

FORT LEE, N.J. — It wasn't a medal that cyclist Camie Kornely of Fort Lee was after when she competed in the World Championships in Manchester, England last summer.

Camie Kornely and her son at the USA Cycling National Championships.

Camie Kornely and her son at the USA Cycling National Championships.

Photo Credit: Camie Kornely
Camie Kornely of Fort Lee with her son, 5.

Camie Kornely of Fort Lee with her son, 5.

Photo Credit: Camie Kornely

Rather, she was on a mission to prove she could overcome her nerves, which have long given her "terrible performance anxiety," Kornely said.

Based on her diving, gymnastic and cycling records, you'd never know.

The NYC public school teacher ended up medaling at the World Games, and hopes to compete again next summer in Los Angeles.

"Your goals don't have to end, they just change," said Kornely, 43, who put her fitness career on hold after giving birth to her son, now 5.  

"You reset them for what you're able to do and you keep going."

"They're not done, just different."

Kornely won the time trial and sprint and took second in the points race at nationals. 

She brought home the bronze in the scratch race, fourth in the points race, fourth in the sprint, fifth in the time trial and sixth in the team sprint.

The athlete credits her coach, Matthew Koschara, for helping her reach her goals. 

Had she given into "mommy guilt" after giving birth to her now 5-year-old son, none of this would've ever happened, she said.

"I sort of sold everything when we got pregnant and I was like, 'Well, that's over,'" she said. "But I needed to do something to get my health back."

She hopped back on her bike and before long was cruising along Route 9W and River Road, training harder and harder each passing month.

She set a goal to compete in nationals, and — with help from her teammates and coach — was able to exceed that on the podium.

The most challenging part of it all, though, is fitting in the time to train, which Kornely does for one hour a day in between the time she finishes work and when she has to pick her son up from school.

"It's just a little something for me that makes me a better mom in the end," Kornely said. "I feel better about myself and that carries over to the energy I have and what I do with my son.

"It's better in the end."

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