ELANCOURT, France (AP) — Haley Batten made history by winning the silver medal in mountain biking at the Olympics, marking the best finish ever by an American rider. However, her achievement came with a minor setback as she was fined by the race officials for a rule infraction.
During the final lap of Sunday’s race, Batten, who was contending for second place with Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds, ventured into a designated lane meant for food, drink, or mechanical stops. The lane is reserved for racers needing assistance or refueling, but Batten’s use of it was deemed a breach of regulations after a review of the footage by the judges.
The 500 Swiss franc fine, approximately $565, was imposed for “failure to respect the instructions of the race organization or commissaires.” Despite the penalty, the judges decided the violation did not warrant disqualification, allowing Batten to keep her silver medal.
Batten’s achievement is a significant improvement from her ninth-place finish at the Tokyo Games three years ago. Reflecting on her performance, Batten expressed her long-standing focus on this race. “I knew before Tokyo that this was the race I was focusing on,” she said. “I’ve known for a long time that I could be good here and Tokyo was — I wanted to be on the podium there, but I wasn’t quite ready to be honest. I prepared much better to be the best I’ve ever been. For me, preparation has been in the details, studying and building every single year.”