Shannon Gaffney // Cycling
Motto: “Today I will do what others won’t so tomorrow I can do what others cannot”
Diagnostic Radiologist/Chief of Breast Imaging Shannon Gaffney (serving as an active-duty Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force) began her cycling career a decade ago. A move to USMES cycling hotbed San Antonio combined with a running injury led Shannon to switch to cycling and enter her first bike race. It was not an auspicious beginning. “I was struggling to maintain contact in the neutral roll out, was dropped mid race, and finished dead last,” said Shannon. “I was miserable with my results but determined to get better.” Shannon, whose personal motto is “today I will do what others won’t so tomorrow I can do what others cannot” trained hard over the winter, and started the following season with something to prove. Over the next year, Shannon upgraded from Category 4 to Category 2. After moving to Northern California, Shannon dominated the “baby masters” 35-39 age group (the fastest age group in what is commonly acknowledged to be the hardest racing district in the country). In 2019 Shannon received the Best All-Around Rider title from Northern California Nevada Cycling Association (NCNCA) after she won the NCNCA masters road race championships, as well as the masters women’s points series, placing first in the legendary San Ardo and Dunnigan Hills road races. Shannon was also chosen to represent the U.S. Armed Forces for the second time at the 2019 CISM Military World Games.
Shannon has twice assisted a teammate to win gold at the U.S. Masters National Road Race Championships, and came in fourth in the 2019 Individual Time Trial at the U.S. Masters National Championships. So in 2020 Shannon’s major focus is to podium at 2020 Nationals, and we have every confidence that she can do it. You’ll also find Shannon at the Tucson Camp, as well as the Sea Otter Classic, Tulsa Tough, and the Armed Forces Cycling Classic. And after a decade of riding and racing, Shannon is now repaying the boost she received from the San Antonio cycling community by actively recruiting junior and women riders.