During her career, Chris Witty was a sportswoman of high achievement. She's one of the very few people who've represented the United States at the Olympic Games in two completely separate sports, both as a racing cyclist and a speed skater. Speed skating was her first love though, and it's the sport she's most closely associated with. She retired from both sports in 2002 but had the honor of carrying the US flag at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
Witty has been openly gay for her whole life, never seeking publicity for the issue, but living for many years with her partner Frouke Oonk. It was her sport that led to her meeting her partner; Oonk has also represented her country at the highest level, having been a long track speed skater for the Netherlands.