Catholic cyclist wins elusive Olympic medal

Published: 2004-09-01

MILWAUKEE (CNS) -- For as long as Dede Demet-Barry and her family can remember, the 1990 graduate of Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee has dreamed of winning an Olympic medal. Over the years, the 31-year-old cyclist has accumulated nearly every top honor in her sport, including two gold medals at the Pan American Games, two World Championship medals and six National Championship titles. But her Olympic dream remained elusive. That changed Aug. 18 when Demet-Barry, finishing second in the women's cycling individual time trial in Athens, Greece, earned a silver medal. Sharing in Demet-Barry's triumph were an international extended family, including seven siblings, the Canadian family of her husband and fellow Olympic cyclist, Michael Barry, and many Greek cousins -- some of whom saw her compete in Athens. Among those seeing the medal ride up close in Athens was Barry's mother, Margadette Demet.

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