California-based Ilonggo cyclist Patrick Coo aims to punch a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when he competes at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bogota, Colombia on May 30.
The 19-year-old Coo only needs to finish fourth place in his International Cycling Union (UCI) World Cup Round 4 Olympic qualifier event to earn a slot in the Summer Games slated from July 23 to August 8.
“I am very much motivated and excited to go after that slot [to the Tokyo Olympics],” said Coo, who travelled to Bogota with PhilCycling coaches Ednalyn Hualda and Frederick Farr earlier this week.
Coo is a decorated cyclist who won his first state championship at the age of eight and went on to snatch four national age-group, 12 state and three western division titles in the United States.
“I train hard all the time, but I am expecting tough opponents in Colombia,” said Coo, who aims to become the youngest member of Team Pilipinas in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Despite being based in Bellflowere, California since his childhood days, Coo is very much proud to represent the country in the Olympics qualifier and possibly in the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
“He will represent the Philippines there. Dual citizen si Patrick kag upod sa akon pamilya kahit diri na kami na base sa LA,” said Patrick’s father Benjamin Coo, who is from Valeria, Iloilo City.
Coo is the only Filipino competitor in the Colombia qualifiers, as fellow Filipino cyclist and 2012 London Olympics athlete Daniel Caluag begged off participating due to his busy schedule as a frontliner nurse in Kentucky.
If Coo is successful in the qualifiers, he will join other Filipino bets like fellow Iloilo-native Irish Magno, Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam of boxing, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and rower Cris Nievarez in Tokyo, Japan.
“We are hoping for Patrick to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics not only because of his potentials to become a champion but because of his passion and motivation – he trains endlessly,” said PhilCycling head Abraham Tolentino./PN
