Karen Kurreck

{{Short description|American cyclist (born 1962)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox cyclist | name = Karen Kurreck | image = | caption = | fullname = Karen Brems Kurreck | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|6|13}} | birth_place = {{USA}} | height = {{height|m=1.68}} | weight = {{convert|57|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | currentteam = Retired | discipline = | role = | ridertype = | amateuryears1 = | amateurteam1 = | proyears1 = | proteam1 = | majorwins = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's Road bicycle racing}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold| 1994 Catania|Individual Time Trial}} {{MedalCompetition|US National Championships}} {{MedalSilver| 1993|Individual Time Trial}} {{MedalSilver| 1998|Individual Time Trial}} {{MedalSilver| 2000|Individual Time Trial}} {{MedalSport | Women's Track bicycle racing}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalSilver| 2017|Masters Track}} {{MedalCompetition|US National Championships}} {{MedalGold| 2008|Masters Track}} {{MedalSport | Women's Cyclocross bicycle racing}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalBronze| 2013|Masters Cyclocross}} {{MedalGold| 2013|Masters Cyclocross}} {{MedalGold| 2012|Masters Cyclocross}} {{MedalCompetition|US National Championships}} {{MedalGold| 2018 Reno, NV|Masters Cyclocross}} {{MedalGold| 2016|Masters Cyclocross}} {{MedalGold| 2015|Masters Cyclocross}} {{MedalGold| 2013|Masters Cyclocross}} }}

'''Karen Brems Kurreck''' (born June 13, 1962, in Urbana, Illinois) is a graduate of Urbana High School and the University of Illinois. As a racing cyclist, she is best known for winning the inaugural women's individual time trial at the 1994 UCI Road World Championships in Catania, Italy. Kurreck represented the United States at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Prior to her cycling career, Brems was a collegiate gymnast at the University of Illinois where in 1984 she became the first Illini athlete to be named as the school's Athlete of the Year and the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor Award winner in the same season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/illini-legends-lists-and-lore-happy-birthday-karen-brems/article_d0902e7b-31b2-5ed3-b2cf-65a3b41fb93b.html |title=Illini Legends, Lists and Lore: Happy birthday, Karen Brems! |date=2016-06-11 |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref>

Since 2011, Brems has concentrated on the Cyclocross discipline. She won two consecutive 50+ Masters World Championships in 2012 and 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stevensbikes.de/2019/index.php?cou=DE&lang=en_US&url=en/stv-news/interview-karen-brems-continues-to-race-continues-to-win.html |title=Interview: Karen Brems Continues to Race, Continues to Win |date=2014-08-14 |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref> and several Masters 50+ championship jerseys at US Cross Nationals including: in 2013 (Master 50–54)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crossresults.com/race/3219#r13305 |title=Masters Cyclocross World Championships Day 4 • Feb 1 2013 • Louisville, KY |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref> in Louisville, Kentucky; in 2015 (Master 50–54)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crossresults.com/race/4997#r13305 |title=2015 US Nationals Day 2 • Jan 8 2015 • Austin, TX |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref> in Austin, Texas; in 2016 (Master 50–54)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crossresults.com/race/5982#r13305 |title=US National Championships Day 3 • Jan 7 2016 • Asheville, NC |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref> in Asheville, North Carolina; and in 2018 (Master 55–59)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crossresults.com/race/8040#r13305 |title=US Cross Nationals Day 4 • Jan 12 2018 • Reno, NV |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref> in Reno, Nevada.

==References== {{reflist}} *{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ku/karen-kurreck-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417184839/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ku/karen-kurreck-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-17 |title=Karen Kurreck}} *{{Cycling Archives|4843}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurreck, Karen}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:American female cyclists Category:Cyclists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic cyclists for the United States Category:People from Urbana, Illinois Category:UCI Road World Champions (women) Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:20th-century American sportswomen