More tributes to Amy Gillett - part 3

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Amy Gillett(Image credit: Mark Gunter)

Tribute, July 21, 2005

Since the tragic news broke Tuesday morning of the death of Amy Gillett in a crash that also injured all five of her Australian cycling team-mates we have been inundated with messages of support and sympathy from all over the world. More than anything, this brings home that cycling is a global community and the loss of one of us touches us all. Cyclingnews is honoured and humbled to be able to provide a platform for everyone's feelings and we start our second page of tributes to Amy with an account from British rider Emma Davies, who was on the scene minutes after the crash. (More tributes from around the world: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.)

May Britt Hartwell, Norway: "I would like to add my deepest condolence to the AIS women’s team for their loss of Amy Gillett. This is a tragedy that words can not describe. All we can pray for is for the girls to fight through their injuries and for their families, friends and cycling community to support them in the weeks to follow to get over this sad time of life. I feel so sorry for Amy and her closest family, all my thoughts and prayers goes to you all in this though time. My self being a mother of two and being hit hard twice by a car, I know this is not easy to overcome as a parent or close family member, but try to bring all the good about Amy out to the world around you. Reading her story as a rower and now cyclist and looking at her pictures, she must have been a wonderful person to everyone. Let her name shine in good memories!

Robyn Lindner, Albury, NSW, Australia: "It was a terrible shock to hear of this tragic accident in Germany and I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Amy Gillett and the other injured riders from the Australian team. My son is a cyclist and is at present competing in the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China and I know the shockwaves and sadness has filtered through to the teams there also.

"To the five others seriously injured our thoughts are with you and your families always, In particular Louise Yaxley, a fellow Taswegian and her parents Brian and Annette, Louise and I have shared many laughs and good times on our trips as part of state teams, and I look forward to sharing many more upon your return home. Also to Katie Brown and her family my thoughts are with you wishing you a speedy recovery, although we haven't spoken much recently I cherish my friendship with you Katie and wish you well.

Andrew Perks UB West Vic Academy of Sport: "I was numbed to hear the tragic news about Amy Gillett and the girls in the Australian cycling team. After also representing Australia at "another sport" and then taking up the beautiful sport of cycling with the Ballarat Cycling Club I know the difficulty in switching sports and the dedication which Amy showed. My thoughts and sympathies go out to all the families and loved ones affected."

Ben Day, Mr.Bookmaker.com-Sportstech: "Since yesterday I have sat here stunned, not being able to comprehend what has happened. I was privileged enough to have spent dinner with the girls earlier this year in Belgium and it amazed me the level of camaraderie amongst the girls, Wazza and everyone else who was involved with their success and adventures. There were always plenty of laughs and it was true what everyone has said about Amy's smile. I extend my deepest condolences out to all these people and Amy's family and friends. It kind of brings everything crashing back into perspective doesn't it? To all the girls, you are all in our hearts and thoughts and I wish you a successful recovery."

"Only recently I have got to know Chuckles (through a friend of Katie and Graeme Brown) and have seen her infectious personality and amazing laugh. To imagine the hurt, both physically and emotionally that all these riders, their loved ones and fellow athletes, are feeling bring tears to my eyes. To hear that Lance Armstrong expressed his condolences to both Robbie and Stuart at the TDF, is a mark of the devastation to the whole of cycling that this devastating accident has caused."

Roland Toder, Germany: "As a great friend of Australia and the Australian people, I am utterly shocked about what happened in the region of Thuringia, Germany. I am frequently in Melbourne and also lived there several years. Therefore I am familiar with the home area of Amy Gillet and the spirit of Australian sportsmen and sportswomen. This is a terrible tragedy. I would like to express my deepest sympathy to Amy's family and friends. My thoughts are also with her team-mates suffering dreadful injuries, as well as their families."

Nisa Schebella, Beaumont, South Australia: "The shockwaves of sadness keep coming as the reality of this tragedy comes home. My deepest condolences to Simon and Amy's family and friends, my prayers to Alex and Katie to pull through the critical stages and for the other girls to be strong and focused on getting through this dark night of the soul in our community. My thoughts go out to all friends and family and to the team members and staff in Germany.

"My thoughts and prays are with all the girls who have been injured, and their families, and I know you are all the strongest of champions and I wish you all the speediest recovery. You'll all be back. That's what the Australian Women's Cycling Team is all about, sticking together and staying strong. The world all over look up to all you girls and everyone involved in such an awesome organisation.

Jeff Hunston, Yukon, Canada: "This is such a terribly saddening, tragic and huge loss for everyone. I am not a cyclist but I enjoy observing the sport and watching some events on the tele. We have a major International bike relay here every summer - from Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada to Haines, Alaska, USA which is hugely popular and a focal point of the local cycling calendar. I was in Australia last summer (Aussie winter) beginning a fundraising walk across Aussie for the Rose Charity. I had the opportunity to absorb the Aussie Olympic experience via the Aussie media. I was in Sydney and had the opportunity to view the welcoming home celebration for the impressive Aussie Olympic team. Although the Canadian performance was disappointing it was very good to see the Aussies come through with particularly impressive performances. It was really good to see individual atheletes raise their game and performance levels to personal bests and beyond - but I was more impressed by how it was done and by the personal character traits that were in evidence. Lots of style, grace and substantive sportsmanship. And some wicked Aussie humour to boot. It was excellent to see the Aussie cyclists break new ground and achieve impressive results by dint of an unrelenting spirit, work ethic and determination.

"I think Amy clearly was going to extend this tradition into the future. She obviously exemplified all that is so good about Aussies. These Aussie women are cut from some different and really good cloth - and good role models for young women wherever they are - including my 12 year old. The world is going to be so much poorer for her passing. But she will not be forgotten - her spirit will carry on and motivate each new young Aussie youth who hops on a bike and sets off down a patch of country or urban road in Victoria, NSW, ACT, Queensland, etc. Honor her - she was an amazing athlete, cyclist and Australian woman. I will. I will be soon doing an ascent of Mt. Australia and had plans to leave some Aussie cultural items (mostly humorous ones) on top of this iconic spire but will now look at putting in small cairn deposit with some items in her memory. This seems fitting that some green and gold be in evidence at the top of this mountain. It overlooks the Klondike goldfields and was named in honor of Aussie individuals who participated in the Klondike gold rush of 1898. The waters of Australia Creek source on its southward facing slopes. Further to the northwest lies the smaller rise of Australia Hill.

Mark Legg, USA Cycling Team Operations Equipment Manager & Mechanic, Tour de l’Aude: "I wish to pass along my deepest sympathies for Amy and her loved ones. This is truly a tragedy for so many of us. I had the pleasure to watch Amy and the rest of the wonderful Aussie girls racing on both the road and the track. They proudly represented Australia in a way that the nation will be hugely proud of.

Richard Geist on behalf of The International Tour de Toona: "The International Tour de Toona joins the world cycling community in mourning the loss of Amy Gillett. Her loss, and the injuries suffered by her teammates, serves to remind us all how fragile life can be, and how strong the fellowship of the cycling community is. As we bond in grief, let us daily remember to cherish our relationships with each other, and to celebrate them joyfully."

"News of this very sad and tragic event has reached far and wide. Our local cycling and triathlon clubs here in Northern New Mexico have all heard news of this and we're all very sorry for the loss of Amy and the injuries sustained by her teammates. We hope the team members all have quick recoveries and will be back to competition soon. We will also be thinking of Amy and her family during this very difficult time, keeping them all in our thoughts and prayers.

Judy Bates, Parramatta Cycling Club: "It is a sad day for the cycling world that this tragic accident has occurred. Many members of Parramatta Cycling Club know some or all the girls involved and many have competed with or against them at all levels of competition. Our Club members are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Two of our members Natalie Bates and Kate Bates spoke at the memorial service for Amy and were close friends.

Peter and Alba Young, Southern California, USA: "When something as tragic as this happens to a Cycling Brother or Sister it reverberates through the Hearts and minds of Cyclists world-wide. Please extend our sincerest sympathy not only to Amy's Family but to Her Fellow Team Members and their loved ones, may they find the strength to get through this. Even though we're far away we're with you and we feel very deeply for you."

Stu Sanders, Former Cyclist, experience in dealings with cars and bikes, Ballarat, Australia: "Deepest sympathies to Amy’s husband Simon, family and closest friends, training and racing partners, coaches and staff from AIS. An unbelievable tragedy. We ride the roads knowing the dangers and accepting them because of our love for the sport. Amy loved this sport. Motorists world wide need to be educated about the rights a cyclist has in everyday cycling and during racing at such a high level. Let’s start to educate them about us. This kind of thing should never happen to one so great. She will be sadly missed."