In this series, the Chronicle follows seven riders as they seek to fulfill their Olympic dreams in London in 2012.

Looking ahead toward London, I was really thinking outside the box. All of last year was spent preparing for getting my right leg amputated so I would be more comfortable. [Brueckmann suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a pain disorder. She was classified as a Grade IV para rider in 1998 based on the secondary paralysis in her right lower leg. RSD itself is not classifiable.]