love stories
“ My wedding ring was my grandfather ’ s ,” Mandy says , “ and we had it resized at Bixlers . I went a nontraditional route with my engagement ring and went with a platinum band with flat diamonds inside that I could wear when training , and it ’ s what I wear all the time now . I wear the wedding ring from my grandfather for special occasions .
“ Jeff Yoder [ of Bixlers ] was the first individual who helped us , and he was great throughout the process . He really listened and understood our lifestyle and what we were looking for . I also get my jewelry regularly cleaned , and Jeff is always so kind and helpful . His daughter is an athlete too , so it ’ s a seamless connection !”
Their flight to Poland was delayed four times that night before being canceled the following morning . The couple was finally able to depart the next day with a different airline .
“ What an adventure ,” said James , who had quit his job to assist Mandy in her pursuit of her Olympic dreams . They spent 37 days abroad together .
Mandy continued , “ We weren ’ t expecting to spend our first night engaged on the floor of an airport , but we laughed it off and made the best of the situation together . That ’ s all that mattered . We ’ re a team . I feel so fortunate to have found my forever teammate .”
And for this team , the Olympic Games mean so much more than going for the gold . As a teenager , Mandy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes , and she hopes to inspire others living with the disease to pursue their own dreams , no matter what .
The pair added more national titles to their respective achievements at the 2022 USA National Track Championships a few weeks before their wedding , a day they had planned a long time in advance . But they had to quickly adjust their honeymoon schedule .
Demonstrating that athletes need to adapt to ever-changing conditions , Mandy and Jamie flew to Lima , Peru , to compete for USA Cycling in the Pan American Track Cycling Championships two days after their wedding .
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