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NAFB cyclist participates in Military World Games
By Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. —
Several thousand miles away from her
usual terrain, Shannon Gaffney found her-
self racing against some of the world’s top
athletes in a 45-mile road race and timed
trial though Mungyeong, South Korea
as part of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling
Team during the Conseil International du
Sport Militaire (CISM) Military World
Games.
The CISM Military World Games is a
multisport event held every four years and
one year before the Olympic Games. This
past October, approximately 100 countries,
and 7,000 military athletes and delegates
participated in 24 sporting events.
It wasn’t until six years ago that Gaffney,
a U.S. Air Force major and staff radiolo-
gist assigned to the 99th Medical Group,
decided to take up cycling.
“I dated somebody who bought me a
bike,” said Gaffney. “He bought a very
expensive bike. He thought I would be a
good cyclist and I actually hated it at first
and never really wanted to use that very ex-
pensive bike. It took me three years of that
bike sitting in the house to finally decide.
“The guilt of that bike sitting there and
a hamstring injury led me to finally say ‘let
me try to bike instead of run.’ I said I’ll give
it two months, seriously dedicate myself
to biking and see if I like it. Soon after I
made that commitment, I met a bunch of
fast cyclists and was determined to be as
good as them.”
Gaffney’s dream came to fruition when
she received a call in July 2014 from the
coach of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling
Team.
“He told me about the event and asked
Maj. (Dr.) Shannon Gaffney, 99th Medical Group staff radiologist, prepares for a bike ride
through the Calico Basin in Las Vegas, Nov. 18, 2015. Gaffney participated in the 2015
Military World Games in South Korea. Military World Games are like the Olympics for
military members, the competition features 100 countries competing in 26 sports divisions.
Sports 5November 25, 2015
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if I wanted to submit an application,” said
Gaffney. “I was like ‘Uh, sure where can I
fill this out?’ So I did, and got selected for
the team and everything kind of unfolded
from there.”
Gaffney had a mixture of feelings lead-
ing up to the event.
“There was tons of excitement and
feeling very proud to be able to wear red,
white and blue, representing the U.S.,” said
Gaffney. “But, there was a lot of anxiety
thinking about the competition. We had
heard there was going to be a lot of strong
athletes, Olympians, and pro-racers. So
there was tons of nerves and I didn’t know
anyone on the team.
“There were two races that I did,” said
Gaffney. “One was a 45-mile road race
that was amongst all the women, and then
there’s something called a time trial which
is an individual race against the clock and I
think that was 12 or 14 miles. I placed 7th
in the individual time trial and 11th in the
road race.”
Back home at Nellis Air Force Base, Ne-
vada, Gaffney often rides 250 miles a week.
“I probably train more than I need too.
I like to do something almost everyday.
Some days I’m out just peddling around
but I try to train seriously at least five days
a week.”
Gaffney usually starts her training
around 6 p.m., after a 12-hour day at work.
“Sometimes I can be tired,” said Gaff-
ney. “So starting to train at that hour can be
difficult. The good thing is I’ve got people
to go with me a lot of the time. This time
of year you have to have lights and cold
weather gear and that’s an issue in and of
itself.”
For Gaffney, staying busy is enjoyable
and needed.
“I think that being really busy is what
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis
Maj. (Dr.) Shannon Gaffney, 99th Medical Group staff radiologist, poses for a photo before
riding her bike through the Calico Basin in Las Vegas, Nov. 18, 2015. On Oct. 6 and 8, 2015
Gaffney raced as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team during the Military World
Games in South Korea. Gaffney was the top U.S. finisher in the women’s cycling road race.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis allows me to do good things and stay fo- competitors have the rigorous clinical and
cused,” she said. “When you actually have academic demands of being a physician.
more time, you maybe tend to be lazy. So
I try to fill my schedule as much as I can.” “Her competitiveness and fitness al-
ready had set an incredible example for our
According to Lt. Col. Nathan Ceca- workplace. However, after her designation
va, Gaffney’s superb character and rigorous as a Military World Games competitor, I
work ethic are the basis for her success — believe her drive for excellence will inspire
not only in competitive cycling, but also in Airmen far and wide. We are extremely
her stellar career as a U.S. Air Force officer, proud of Dr. Gaffney and her accomplish-
physician, and radiologist. ments.”
“Her dedication to patient care is second According to Gaffney, she often looks
to none,” said Cecava. “She is possibly the to incorporate the Air Force core values
hardest working physician at the 99th into her day-to-day work ethic as well as
Medical Group, sacrificing her personal her training.
time, and going the extra mile for her pa-
tients and for the Air Force mission. Her “The core values coincide with how I
cycling prowess is so amazing because she think everything should be done,” said
trains solely on her personal time with no Gaffney. “Especially excellence in all we
financial or coaching support. I believe she do. I just try to give everything my best
was a unique competitor at the Military and it definitely helps when other people
World Games. It is unlikely that many have that same mindset of trying the best
that they can do.”