A young BMX racer from Coquitlam has received a major boost to his aspirations to someday compete in the Summer Olympics.
Dallen Brereton-Stiles is one of 100 finalists from across Canada heading to Halifax, N.S., for the RBC Training Ground national final on Nov. 2.
The RBC Training Ground program identifies potential future Olympians through their performance in a series of physical tests of their strength, speed, endurance and agility. The top 30 receive funding through one of 13 participating national sport organizations that will help accelerate their path to achieve their Olympic dream.
Some of the program’s alumni who’ve gone on to compete at the Olympics include track cyclists Sarah Urban and Kelsey Mitchell, and rowers Gabrielle Smith and Trevor Jones.
Brereton-Stiles, 15, has won races at events across North America and, as a 14-year-old, he finished eighth in his age category at last year’s UCI BMX racing world championships in Scotland. But he couldn’t compete at this year’s worlds in South Carolina because of an injury.
Brereton-Stiles said going to the Olympics has been his dream since he started achieving top results in the sport he started when he was four. Getting to the Training Ground final makes it feel more realistic.
“The Olympics is my dream,” Brereton-Stiles said. “This is a crazy opportunity to help me do that.”
Although, it may not necessarily be as a BMX racer.
Brereton-Stiles’ results in the first round of testing last March at the Olympic Oval in Richmond caught the attention of Bobsleigh Canada. Curiously, the organization also tapped a BMX buddy of his who is heading to the Training Ground national final as well.
“It seems all BMXers are good bobsledders,” said Brereton-Stiles, who admitted he doesn’t know much about the sport although the explosive leg strength he needs for his quick sprint races at the 400-metre BMX track would likely serve him well at the bobsled start gate.
Brereton-Stiles’ potential as a future bobsledder got him to the second round of testing. But when he indicated he didn’t think the sport would be a good fit for his aspirations, he thought that would be the end of the road.
RBC didn’t agree.
Brereton-Stiles’ results in the physical tests measuring his strength, vertical jumping ability and speed in various sprints were so good he made the cut for the national final anyway.
To prepare, Brereton-Stiles said he’s been amping up his usual training routine that includes three days in the gym doing squats, leg exercises and sprints on a stationary bike.
He said he’s paying particular attention to the tests he’ll be given in Halifax, like deadlifting weights, a 30-metre sprint, a wattage test to determine the power he can generate on a bike and a measure of the distance he can jump.
“I feel like this will help me,” Brereton-Stiles said. “Honestly, I hope I can do good and have a good time.”
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