By Adrian Stewart Co
California-based Ilonggo rider Patrick Coo vows to improve his game further after falling short of clinching a 2020 Tokyo Olympics slot during the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) BMX Supercross World Cup in Bogota, Colombia.
The Valeria, Iloilo City-native Coo said his performance in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament inspires him to work harder as he hopes to represent the country in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I have learned that the junior league speed is different in the Olympic qualifying level and we’re going to step up in the next few races,” Coo told the media on Tuesday.
“I’m always proud to represent the Philippines in any competitions abroad, I’ll give it another shot,” he added. “It’s been my dream and I hope to win a medal for the Philippines. I am proud to be a Filipino.”
Coo was given the call up to vie in the Olympic qualifier in the Colombian capital, thus foregoing his classification in UCI BMX cycling as an under-23 rider to an elite competitor.
The 19-year-old Coo wounded up 42nd in a field of 62 riders in Stage 3 of the qualifiers held at the Pista BMX track on Saturday and was 45th in Stage 4 on Sunday.
“It was really a last-minute thing and we did our best,” said Coo, who was accompanied in Bogota by PhilCycling coaches Ednalyn Hualda and Frederick Farr.
“I’m so thankful to everyone for assembling this really quick. We really gave our all. My first World Cup—with a big expectation—I tried to live up to it but it was hard, my best wasn’t good enough,” he added.
PhilCycling head and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, meanwhile, lauded Coo for his showing as he was the youngest and the only Asian to compete in the Qualifier’s Elite Men category.
“Patrick did his best, and I am proud for him for being so,” Tolentino said in a statement. “He’s still young and he’s got a lot of BMX racing ahead of him.”
“We really need to develop Patrick because he has the potential,” he added. “He would not be featured on the Olympic.com if he has no potential.”/ASC, WDJ