Some Marquette students spend their free time studying. Others work part-time jobs. Still others sleep until 2 p.m. after a night of partying. Dede Demet Barrry, however, spent a large portion of her college years+ training to become an expert cyclist. This Milwaukee native enrolled at Marquette in 1990. Her hard work and dedication would pay off years later, when Barry received the Olympic silver medal in Athens for road cycling.
Barry's mother, Margadette Demet, said her daughter had wanted to participate in the Olympics since she was a young girl. Originally a speed skater, Barry chose to narrow her focus to cycling while at Marquette.
"I was too busy doing both sports and going to school, so my coach suggested I focus on one sport," Barry said via e-mail.
She enjoyed traveling new areas when training, so she opted for cycling.
Barry juggled rigorous classes as well as an intense training program.
"I attended classes in the morning and trained all afternoon," she said.
In the afternoons Barry would leave campus and bike the rural roads outside the city. In addition, she underwent a weight training program at the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Although this lifestyle was hectic, she said that "being busy kept my focus and kept me on a tight and efficient schedule."
Barry enjoyed Marquette and the supportive atmosphere — the Demet family was also particularly fond of the Jesuit method of teaching, Margadette added. Barry planned to challenge herself not only physically, but mentally as well.
"I was interested in majoring in biology and then eventually attending medical school," Barry said.
However, in order to achieve her goal of becoming an Olympic cyclist, Barry would need to move to an area better suited for her training and continue her education at a later time.
"My choice to pursue cycling put my university education on hold and I eventually went a different direction with my education as my interests changed," Barry said. "I also was progressing rapidly in the sport and wanted to see what I could achieve."
After completing one semester at Marquette, Barry moved to Boulder, Colo. to focus more intensely on her cycling. Her program continued to challenge her.
"I raced 80 races per season throughout the world and trained two to five hours per day," Barry said.
Barry's hard work and dedication led her to win three World Championship medals, including the 2002 Montreal World Cup. She took her abilities to the next level and raced in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. The course was 25 kilometers long, and Barry averaged a speed of 47 kilometers per hour.
"I was focused on my effort throughout the race, and when I crossed the line I knew I was in medal contention," Barry said. "I was nervous and there were nine more finishers I had to wait for to know if I would medal."
The wait certainly paid off, and Barry was awarded second place in road cycling.
Barry recently retired from cycling and plans to focus her attention on her family life. She and her husband, Michael Barry, welcomed their first child, Liam, on Aug. 2.
Though Barry put an end to her career, her husband continues to train.
"He is currently racing the Tour de Spain and preparing for the World Championships in Madrid," Barry said. "I think the 2006 Tour de France and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing are goals for him in the future."
Though Michael Barry still trains hard, the family remains together in their second home in Girona, Spain. Their life may be busy, but with a child on board, one of their new major priorities is "showing our child the world and providing a good life for him."
This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 15, 2005.