On Sunday, May 14, she unapologetically shot past the finish line yet again, claiming first place in the 17th Annual Female Cross Country Cycling Classic. The eldest of 8 siblings, her mission is not only to win, but also to set a positive, shining example for her 5 brothers and two sisters?and perhaps to even make Daddy proud and do something great in honor of her deceased mother.

She rides for Team Lovell, sponsored by her father, Belize Defence Force Colonel George Lovell, Sr. In total, there are six members of the family who compete in cycling. They are her two younger sisters, Gabrielle and Georgiana, who also competed on Sunday; her brothers, George, Jr., and Gregory; and their father.

Gina told us that they have never competed in family races, and when she trains, most of the time she does it alone. When she does partner with anyone, it’s with her brother, Gregory, who is also very accomplished in the sport.

The young cyclist, who has also been labeled Ms. Body Figure 2005, commits to a rigid routine that she says keeps her fit and trim. There’s a big health benefit in cycling, Gina professed. She pumps the pedals for 2 hours in the morning from Mondays to Fridays; on Saturdays, she rides 3 to 4 hours. On Sundays, she takes longer rides of 5 to 6.

This is Gina Lovell?s 3rdyear in cycling, coming out of track and field. Symbolically speaking, she landed there by accident. In Manchester, in 2002, she got injured while doing the 100 m hurdles. She was recommended for surgery and rehabilitation, and her regimen included riding and swimming. It wasn’t really by accident, she disputes; everything happens for a reason.

That "accident" led her in 2004 to garner her first win in the Female Cross Country Cycling Classic, but times then were bittersweet. That is because she had also lost her mother that same year, on January 15, 2004. Coping with that heartbreaking loss was the real challenge.

"When my mother died, I became stronger, more aggressive and more demanding; that is, more eager to do something for my brothers and sisters, to set an example," she told us.

Today, she is active in cycling, bodybuilding and the triathlon, and she plays basketball for fun. Through it all, she has had to contend with a series of injuries, including traumatic whiplashes and a broken collarbone, but she continues to press forward.

In 2005, she rode the New Year’s Day Classic, but did not finish because she got hurt in a spill. On January 15 that same year, she broke her collarbone in a speed ride spill while training with some male cyclists, which she did on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

She also has to be on permanent medication for endometriosis, which got worse in 2005 and forced her into surgery. That kept her from riding the cross country in 2005, so this year is her phenomenal comeback.

Gina says that she has still not fully recovered from her injuries. On top of everything, she recently suffered the stomach flu and has recently been diagnosed with food allergies. Despite continued medical afflictions, she keeps her head up.

She describes herself as a very easygoing person, "but once you want a challenge, I will give you that challenge without saying anything. I’m not afraid to lose, because being a winner, I have to lose some times. You have to make mistakes to learn."

Demonstrating a spirit of camaraderie, she said, "When competing, if I lose, I don’t get mad or angry. I will shake the hand of the person who wins and say I will try harder. I am not ‘grudgeful’."

She also does not try to compete in every race: "I need to choose my races and I need to recover and rest my body; put God in my life, pray and have trust and faith; and don’t force my body. have faith in my self, [and] take things step by step," she shared.

In addition to work and cycling, Gina is also pursuing an Associate Degree in business at St. John?s Sixth Form, Evening Division. She intends to eventually study abroad in physiotherapy and nutrition.

"The reason I do this is to be a good role model for my country," she told us, revealing that she also wants to establish a sole proprietorship athletic village, where athletes from Belize and abroad can enjoy their sport.

She is very grateful to her parents, who have, evidently, been the biggest motivators in her life. She demonstrates that the love and support of parents are monumental in shaping productive youth.

"If it weren’t for my parents, I wouldn’t be this far. If it weren’t for my mom, I would become one of those lazy girls that don?t care. I understand everything she explained: try to get an education, set an example for your brothers and sisters. My father is the best father I could have. He is very supportive; he is behind me in everything I do."

She is happy to see more women involved in cycling, growing from 3 competitors in the days of Camille Solis to 13 in the last Cross Country, she said.

"There is a future in female cycling if they give us a chance, if we can perform outside [the country], if we push it, and they recognize us," she added.

Gina Lovell is still on the go. She is riding for charity along with other cyclists in Social Security’s Annual Ride Across Belize, which is set to take place this weekend.