Mari Holden

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Mari Kim Holden (born March 30, 1971) is an American former professional cyclist and Olympic medalist. She won a silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the women’s time trial and became the World Time Trial Champion later that year in Plouay, France. Holden won six national championships and was the first American woman to win three consecutive US time trial titles (1998–2000); she also won both the US time trial and road championships in 1999. In 2016 she was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame as a Modern Road and Track Competitor. She currently works with USA Cycling as a community director, leading the Let’s Ride youth program, and she joined USA Cycling’s staff in 2019.

Early life and career: Holden was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was a member of the U.S. junior world triathlon team and was named Junior Triathlete of the Year in 1991. She began cycling in high school as part of a triathlon program, moved to Colorado Springs in 1992 to train with the U.S. cycling team, and attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where she studied philosophy. She finished sixth in the national time trial in 1993, suffered a back fracture in 1994, then won the national time trial in 1995 and 1996. She raced in Europe, finished second at the 1999 Women’s Challenge, and placed in the top ten at the Grande Boucle. Holden also served on the board of USA Cycling (elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004) and was an athlete ambassador to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. She is sometimes listed by her married name, Holden-Paulsen.