A Spin Around the World: 2002
Things were going really well and Lori-Ann was definitely on
track for 2002. After two solid years of training under Steen’s
direction Lori-Ann would set 5 Track Records in 6 weeks!

At a World Cup in Sydney, Australia she took 2 Bronze Medals
in the Keirin and Match Sprints. She added 3 more Canadian
titles to her collection (now totaling 8) and another Bromont Track Record in the
Standing 500Metres.

Representing Canada at the XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England she took 3rd in the Standing 500Metres, 2nd in the Match Sprints, and set a new Commonwealth Games Record in the Flying 200Metres. To cap off this fantastic experience she was selected to be Canada’s Flag Bearer at the Closing Ceremonies:

“ What an absolute honour it is to carry the flag.”

Two weeks later she and 11 members of the Canadian National Team would travel to Quito, Ecuador for the Pan American Championships. She took 2 Gold medals in the Keirin and Match Sprint events, Silver in the Standing 500 Metres and set 3 records in one day: 2 Canadian records in the Flying 200 Metres and Standing 500 Metres, and 1 Pan American record in the Standing 500 Metres. Unfortunately 9 out of the 12 athletes got food poisoning during their stay and Lori-Ann thought that she was number 10. As Quito is 22km away from the Equator, it took her 18 hours to travel home. Upon her arrival home and a visit to the hospital the very next morning she found out that her appendix was in the process of rupturing and was operated on that same night. Participation at that year’s World Track Cycling Championships wouldn’t happen and she would have to end her season there.

Change Management and Lady Luck: 2003
2003 was a year of change and learning new things. Looking to improve her riding, speed and tactics, Lori-Ann moved to Switzerland to train under Frederic Magné, a 7 time World Champion. It was a good experience but a costly one: the training was good, but not good enough. In looking back, Lori-Ann was over-trained and this showed in her performances at the first two World Cups of the year.

Instead of staying in Switzerland for the entire year as originally planned, Lori-Ann returned home to Edmonton to make up for lost time (something almost impossible to do in such a short time). She was trying to gain some points at the final World Cup in Sydney, Australia in order to qualify for the World Championships being held at the end of July. In a three week period and again under the direction of Steen, Lori-Ann worked extremely hard and took 3rd in the Match Sprints and 5th in the Standing 500 Metres, qualifying her for the World Championships.