Mandy's Story

photo credits- ©David Bracetty Photography.

Life is about more than just winning.

When I was younger, my parents always had a saying or quote to fit any situation or circumstance. I believe it was their way of giving me advice, but letting me find my own direction. They printed one in particular and hung it above my bed.

“If you shoot for the moon and you miss, you’ll still land amongst the stars.”

I’ve been competitively cycling since I was 10 years old. At 16, my life took an unexpected turn, and I thought my Olympic aspirations were over. I felt all my years of hard work had come to an end. Type 1 diabetes was a new challenge, and I was scared of the direction it would take me.

At 18, I joined Team Novo Nordisk. I gained the confidence to open up and share my story and made lifelong friends within the diabetes community. Both of these things gave me the courage to keep going. The team has given me hope to continue pursuing my dreams, and it serves as a platform to inspire people affected by diabetes. For me, this means working to empower young women to never give up on their dreams.

When you land amongst the stars, look beyond them and don’t be afraid to take that unexpected turn. Enjoy the journey, because there is more to life than just winning.

Mandy Marquardt