OC Women’s Spotlight – Lili Salonen-Berscht
How long have you been in cycling?
I have been road cycling for 8 years and riding the track for 7 years now!
How did you get into cycling?
Some of my earliest memories are riding in the bike trailer behind my dad while he and my mom were biking. Not suprisingly, they got me into cycling at an early age. I first rode on a youth development team and now I’m sporting coral with MRCC U23 Women’s Project.
What is your favourite discipline?
My favourite discipline is track cycling! Especially the sprint events, like keirin and match sprint. Short and sprinty is my jam!
Who is your favourite cyclist?
My favourite cyclist is Kelsey Mitchell. I looked up to her a lot as an aspiring young cyclist, especially after her success in Tokyo. Her philosophy to always give 100%, on good or bad days and in all aspects of life, really resonated with me back then and still does today. I actually met her a few times at the track in Milton and she seems like a genuinely awesome person too!
What has been your favourite event in 2025?
My favourite event in 2025 has been Junior Track Nationals. The energy and vibe of the event is always great with so many people there supporting me. I always leave Nationals weekends with lots of memories. As a first-year junior I knew it was going to be challenging racing, especially in a high-quality women’s field, but I won the Keirin! It’s one of the highlights of my racing career so far.
What is something you want to see in the future of cycling?
I want to see an increased global understanding that women and girls need training and support that is different to their male counterparts, both in cycling and in sports in general. Dr. Stacy Sims has said, “women are not small men” and I think it is very important that coaches and athletes educate themselves and apply this learning so female athletes can succeed and become the best they possibly can.
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