Ivy Reynolds | Reporter
From Print [November 3, 2015] | Legacy

Burning quads, tight calves and heavy breathing are daily endurances for Lindenwood sophomore Hannah Finchamp.

As a three-sport college athlete who competes for the Lions on the cycling, cross-country and track teams, she is no stranger to hard work or the benefits that come from it.

Finchamp brought home the 2015 Cross Country Mountain Bike title two weeks ago.

“Winning the national championship…was a huge reward for the hours of training I have been putting in on the bike,” she said.

Although this is her first title in cycling, Finchamp is quite familiar with the top spot on the podium.

“I’ve competed [in triathlons] nationally and internationally, and have a number of World Champion titles in Off-Road Triathlon,” she said.

The lifestyle she leads not only pushes her body to the limits but her schedule as well.  Finchamp is a college athlete from August to May and a training professional from March to September.  It’s a heavy 12 months, but as a tri-athlete since age 9, Finchamp says she has figured out that she thrives on being busy.

“Despite the challenges, I absolutely love what I do, and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” she said, demonstrating maturity on multiple levels as she spreads her time efficiently.

“I think the key to finding success across a variety of disciplines is to always be present in the moment,” she said. “Being mindful of the current task at hand allows for total focus, and it allows me to give the task the respect and dedication that it deserves.”

Beyond her work as a collegiate athlete, Finchamp also competes as part of the LUNA Pro Team, a USA women’s mountain bike team composed of multi-time Olympians. They set their sights on Finchamp when she was still in high school.

“They recruited me as their youngest rider three years ago when I won the XTERRA World Championship for the second time,” she said.

Finchamp is currently the youngest roster member, competing for the LUNA Pro Team in any non-collegiate races that she does and says she is looking forward to what the team can accomplish this year.

“One of the things that I love about cycling is that there is no limit to the improvement an athlete can make,” she said.

Catch Finchamp and the rest of the cycling team in St. Charles on Nov. 21-22 at the Lindenwood University Cyclo-cross Race, which will take place on campus starting at 8 a.m.