Patrick Coo (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Cycling coach Ednalyn Hualda believes it's high time for young BMX sensation Patrick Coo to be developed.
Hualda on Tuesday said the 19-year-old cyclist could be the future of BMX racing following a gallant stand in the recent Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) BMX Supercross World Cup in Bogota.
“We really need to develop Patrick because he has the potential,” Hualda said. “He would not be featured on the Olympic.com if he has no potential.”
Coo barely missed out on the Tokyo Olympic cut after peaking at 42nd place out of 62 in the third round of the event on Saturday in the Colombian capital.
In spite of this, Coo looks at the positives he got from his first major seniors' race.
“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,” he said.
“Patrick did his best, and I am proud of him for being so,” added PhilCycling head Abraham Tolentino. “He’s still young and he’s got a lot of BMX racing ahead of him.”
Currently based in California, Coo said he plans to train in the Philippines ahead of his bid for the 2024 Paris Olympics. (PNA)
