Veteran and Team USA Para-Cyclist Ellie Kennedy Eyes the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games

At 69, Team USA Para-Cycling Road athlete Kennedy is pursuing a goal few athletes her age would even contemplate: Competing in the LA28 Paralympic Games.

A Gulf War veteran who began racing in her 60s, Kennedy earned a bronze medal at a World Cup in Italy in 2025, securing a spot on the U.S. team for her first Para-Cycling World Road Championships. She went on to finish fifth in the time trial at the World Championships and is now a member of the U.S. Paralympics Cycling team.

Her journey to becoming an elite para-athlete has included serious illness, injuries and other setbacks. Through it all, Kennedy has drawn on the resilience and problem-solving skills she developed during more than 15 years of military service.

"You learn that, OK, you have an obstacle. What is the obstacle and how do we solve it? And what's the goal?" Kennedy said. "All of that goes back to my military training. You just don't give up."

Now, following a year marked by significant health challenges, Kennedy is back on her bike and working toward a return to international competition-with her sights set on competing in the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Para-Cycling Road event.

A Veteran's Resilience

Kennedy served in both the U.S. Air Force and Army, including Army service during the Gulf War.

She credits her military training with teaching her to remain focused and make decisions under pressure-skills that have followed her from military service to international competition.

"Sometimes we go through experiences where we're pushed beyond what we think we're capable of doing," Kennedy said.

Years after leaving the military, Kennedy developed ataxia, a neurological condition that affects balance. She eventually discovered para-cycling and began competing in her 60s.

Finding Answers at Cedars-Sinai

Earlier this year, Kennedy's training was interrupted by a series of complex health problems, including severe allergic reactions, pneumonia and sepsis.

After struggling to access specialty care near her home in Tucson, Arizona, Kennedy was connected with Cedars-Sinai through the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Medical Network.

Cedars-Sinai is one of 11 medical institutions in the network, which provides Team USA athletes access to specialized care at Cedars-Sinai. Additionally, Cedars-Sinai is the Official Medical Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"It helped me bridge the gap between no care and finally getting connected with all the specialists I need to see," Kennedy said. "I can't even put into words how great it was."

Kennedy was evaluated by specialists across multiple disciplines, including pulmonologist Isabel Pedraza, MD, director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Cedars-Sinai.

Pedraza evaluated breathing problems Kennedy experienced during intense exercise and suspected that some symptoms previously attributed to asthma were related to vocal cord dysfunction.

"Understanding what is causing an athlete's symptoms is important because even conditions that appear similar can require very different approaches," Pedraza said. "Our goal is to understand the whole patient and help them safely return to the activities that matter most to them."

Kennedy returned to Cedars-Sinai for follow-up care and continued consulting with Pedraza as she worked to establish pulmonary care closer to home.

Back on the Bike

Kennedy's return to competition took another unexpected detour over the summer when she was hospitalized with a severe case of Valley fever and pneumonia.

Her medical issues in 2026 prevented her from earning a spot on the 2026 Para-Cycling Road World Championship team, but Kennedy hasn't abandoned her goals.

She is riding again and gradually rebuilding strength and working toward a return to the national team and international competition.

"I love to ride my bike," Kennedy said. "That's number one. And that's good for my health."

Service Beyond Veterans Day

As Veterans Day approaches, Kennedy hopes the holiday encourages people to consider the needs of veterans throughout the year.

"A lot of people focus on it for one day, but it's something that should be a focus every single day," Kennedy said.

For Kennedy, the determination that carried her through military service continues to guide her as an athlete. She remains focused on the goal ahead: competing at the LA28 Paralympic Games.

As the oldest woman in the world competing in elite para-cycling, Kennedy knows reaching that goal is ambitious. But she isn't letting age-or disability-define what she believes is possible.

"Age or disability should never be an obstacle," Kennedy said. "Anything is possible."

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