Charles “Syd” Lea
Hometown:  Taneytown, Maryland
Sport: Cycling (Road, Track & Cyclocross)
Coach:  Barry Holman

2009 HIGHLIGHTS
Member of US Cycling Team at 2009 INAS-FID Global Games, Czech Republic
• Silver: Overall, Long Time Trial, Short & Long Road Races
• Bronze: Short Time Trial, Team Time Trial

2009 MABRA Category 4 Men’s Cyclocross Champion (non-disabled)
• Two first place finishes in the fall series
• Consistent top 5 finishes in field of 100+ riders

ATHLETE BIO
As the first “Athlete Without Limits,” Syd Lea is a true ambassador for mainstreaming in athletics and life by opening up doors for other intellectually disabled athletes and opening the eyes, hearts and minds of his non-disabled competitors.

Syd is currently the 2nd ranked cyclist with intellectual disability in the world following his 5 medal performances representing the US at the 2009 INAS-FID Global World Championships. He also competes in mainstream (non-disabled) US Cycling events where he races for T.E.A.M. Fuji as a Category 4 Racer on the Track; a Category 5 Racer on the Road; and a Category 4 Racer in Cyclocross.

Additionally, Syd competes in several sports in Special Olympics at the local, national and international level culminating in two gold and one silver medal in cycling at the 2008 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China. He is also a trained official at Special Olympic speed skating events throughout the country.

Syd is very well known on the local, regional, national and international cycling scene, but not just because he is a successful competitor. He is best known for being a friend to all athlete at all levels of sport — whether juniors, beginner women, world champions or other athletes with intellectual disability. One week you’ll find him working the "pits" for a pro racer at a UCI event and the next he'll be loaning his bike and his race knowledge to a first time racer so she can give racing a try in a local event.

When he is not traveling, racing or training, Syd works as a member of the groundskeeping crew at Mount Saint Mary’s University; volunteers at a local horse farm; and helps with event promotion for the annual Taneytown MABRA Cyclocross Championships to benefit Athletes Without Limits. He also makes a monthly donation to Athletes Without Limits to help support the development of other exceptional athletes with intellectual disability.

For additional information, please contact Julie Holman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-544-0510.