Kristen Faulkner's Olympic dream became a reality Thursday when she was nominated for the country's track cycling team in Paris. The EF Education Cannondale rider was USA Cycling's top candidate for automatic selection to the Olympic road team, but missed the cut by 11 seconds after triathlete Taylor Knibb won the national championship time trial.

After winning the national championship road race, Faulkner headed directly from Charleston, West Virginia, to the USA Cycling track camp in Belgium, where he proved his ability to the selection committee.

"I have dreamed of competing in the Olympics ever since I saw it on TV when I was eight years old. This is the biggest dream I have ever had and it finally came true!" Faulkner said. 'I am so excited to be representing the United States with such a strong group of athletes. I will do my best to bring home a medal for Team USA."

The 31-year-old will join 2021 Olympic Team Pursuit representatives Chloe Diggart, Jen Valente, and Lily Williams, with Olivia Cummins taking the fifth spot in the women's team pursuit.

Grant Koontz was the only male athlete selected for the track cycling event, as only one competitor qualified for the men's omnium and one for the other events.

Faulkner's inclusion on the track team also paved the way for USA Cycling to name her as Knibb's replacement in the women's road race.

Valente, the 2021 Olympic omnium champion, will return to defend her title and will also compete in Madison with Williams.

"I am excited to be officially selected to represent the Olympics for the third time," Valente said. 'The Olympics have always been special to me and this one is just as fascinating. The road to Paris was a unique process with new challenges in the shortened quad. I am thrilled to be lining up with longtime teammates and fresh faces."

Cummins is the youngest on the team at 20 years old.

"I still don't know how to put into words what it means to me to be on this Olympic team," Cummins said. 'The Olympics is something I never thought I would be able to accomplish. The Olympics was something that famous professional athletes did, not me. Then about a year ago, the possibility of making this team came up.

"A year ago, I made the Olympics my dream, fully committed to it, made sacrifices, and made it happen. I can't wait to see this dream come true in Paris this August.

Cycling at the 2024 Olympics will begin on July 27 with the men's and women's individual time trials. The cross-country MTB will take place July 28-29. The men's and women's road races will take place August 3-4, and the track races will run from Monday, August 5 through the final day of competition on Sunday, August 11.