Marie-Claude Molnar is a C4 road and track paracyclist from Canada.
Through the recovery process from a life-altering accident in 2005, she remained fierce and kept pushing her physical and cognitive limits by returning to cycling as a hobby and entering university. During those years, she was very involved in student initiatives, such as co-founding a student journal, being elected president of a student association, and collaborating on the organisation of student activities around a convention on globalisation, as well as university homecoming events.
Born and raised in a family that enjoyed outdoor activities such as cycling, Marie-Claude rode her first bicycle around the age of three. Passionate about sports, she was very involved in recreational activities offered at school and competed at a young age in soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, and ice hockey.
It was in 2008, during the Beijing Paralympic Games, that Marie-Claude discovered paracycling. In front of family and friends, she took part in her first race on May 1st, 2009, at the Défi Sportif. It all began when she asked herself if she could be any good at competitive cycling. There was only one way she thought of to find the answer: try.
Career highlights :
- Double 2021 UCI Paracycling Road World Championship
- Bronze medal, individual time trial, 2012 London Paralympic Games
- Top 5, Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
- Silver medal, 3000m individual pursuit 2019 Lima Parapan American Games
- World record, 3000m individual pursuit, 2011 Guadalajara Parapan American Games
- 30 national championship titles
- 15 UCI World Championships podiums
- 10 UCI World Cup victories
- Triple silver medalist, 2017 UCI Paracycling Track World Championships, Los Angeles, USA
- Silver medalist, 2010 UCI Paracycling Road World Championships, Baie-Comeau, Canada
- Silver medalist, road race, 2011 Guadalajara Parapan American Games, Guadalajara, Mexico
- 2012 UCI Paracycling Road World Cup champion
- Recipient, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2013
- Recipient, King Clancy Award, 2013
True fulfillment does not only lie in medals, but in overcoming challenges and leaving a positive mark, wherever one goes. All throughout her career, Marie-Claude has been invited on multiple occasions to share her story of resilience, bravery, determination, and excellence. Engaging with various audiences has been a very humanly rewarding experience, a chance to meet wonderful people and belonging to a fantastic team.
It is far more important to be proud of the journey, than just results and medals. Never stop being a seeker.
Here is a comprehensive list of audio and video interviews collected over the years.
