Kellogg professor wins world cycling championship

	Leigh Thompson

A determined nature and strong work ethic have helped Leigh Thompson go far in academia — and now, in athletics.

In August, Thompson, the J. Jay Gerber Professor of Dispute Resolution & Organizations, was named the world champion in her age group (50 to 54) in the International Cycling World Championship Time Trial in St. Johann in Tirol, Austria.

Thompson entered the world of competitive cycling only four years ago, when her husband, Bob Weeks ‘97, encouraged her to explore the sport. Thompson joined a training group through Vision Quest Coaching, where she engaged in rigorous workouts that transformed her from recreational cyclist to elite competitor.

“In some sense, I’m glad I didn’t do this when I was younger,” Thompson told the Chicago Tribune in October. “I’m doing this for fun, and I’m at the top of my game. I want to do this for the rest of my life.”

An expert in negotiations and teamwork, Thompson serves as executive director of the Kellogg Team and Group Research Center. She notes: “This whole experience has led me to develop a new teaching module that focuses on goal-setting, training and, of course, coaching.”