Lawrence resident Lindsay Lorenz wears her bronze medal from the 2013 Deaflympics July 27 through Aug. 7 in Bulgaria. Lorenz won the coveted prize in the 1,000-meter cycling sprints.

From the Tour of Lawrence to the Deaf Olympics in Bulgaria, local cyclist Lindsay Lorenz has been pedaling non-stop all summer. But now, with a bronze medal around her neck, she might be able to take a breather.

The Lawrence resident returned Monday from Sofia, Bulgaria, where she competed July 27 through Aug. 7 in the 2013 Deaflympics’s women’s road cycling events, taking home with her the bronze medal for the United States in the 1,000-meter sprints.

The Deaflympics is a sanctioned International Olympic Committee event where athletes compete at the elite level every four years in different locations throughout the world.

Lorenz had been competing against hearing competitors across the country in professional and amateur races for years, gaining attention for her speed and dedication, but never had the chance to compete on the international stage. Before this year, there were only men’s cycling competitions at the Deaflympics.

“I moved up to such a level that I had become known in the cycling community,” Lorenz said through a sign language interpreter. “So when the Deaflympics opened up women’s cycling events this year, I was recruited.”

The cyclist learned of the event just three weeks before the submission deadline for the $2,500 competition fee. With the help of family, friends and community members, she was able to meet her goal and continued to raise another $5,000 in donations from about 80 people to cover the rest of her costs.

Beaming ear-to-ear while proudly sporting her coveted bronze, Lorenz said she hopes she’ll have another chance to compete at the Olympic level in 2017.