Danute Bankaitis-Davis

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Danute Monika "Bunki" Bankaitis-Davis (born January 2, 1958 ) is a former American cyclist and world champion.

Danute Bankaite-Davis, called "Bunki", was one of ten children; she had four sisters and five brothers. Her parents of Lithuanian origin, who were very traditional, tried to discourage her from exercising, but her brothers supported her athletic ambitions. At first she played volleyball in school. At the suggestion of her future husband, she only started competitive cycling relatively late, also because she suffered from foot problems.

In 1988, at the age of 30, Bankaitis-Davis took her first major victory when she won the Tour of Norway . In the same year she started at the Olympic Games in Seoul in the street race and finished 14th. In 1990 she won the Tour de Toona and finished second in the overall ranking of the Tour of Norway . In 1992 she became world champion in the team time trial , together with Janice Bolland , Jeanne Golay and Eve Stephenson . Then she stepped back.

Before starting her cycling career, Danute Bankaitis-Davis had completed a degree in chemistry . After retiring from active sport, she worked in research and is now vice president of a molecular medicine company.

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personal data
SURNAME Bankaitis-Davis, Danute
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bankaitis-Davis, Danute Monika (full name); Bankaitis-Davis, Bunki (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American cyclist
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd January 1958