| From the BVI Cycling Federation Rider Profiles
Olympia Fahie. Yes, and she is only 14 years old, blessed with determination and hard work on the bike. Fahie who only started competitive cycling last year has been one of the most active participants in the BVI Cycling Federation (BVICF) 2004 season. Her rise to ‘young cycling phenomenon’ did not come by chance. She is also known for whipping her seasons. Her best performance to date was the women’s race on May 9, Mother’s Day, when she out-sprinted Patlian Johnson, who is about twice her age. Then on June 9, she won the Desert Duel on Anegada, however unfortunately, she was penalised for missing a turn and was placed fourth. She also won the season’s first junior race, beating out boys. How did she get there? “From since I was small I’ve being in sports,” Fahie said Sunday after finishing third in the women’s division of the Village Cay Highway Challenge. “I used to do track and field, but I was very small and then just I stopped. I always used to ride my bike; my father taught me how to ride my bike. And he just one day put me in a race and I did well…. That was a time trial … the first race I participated in.” Fahie’s dream is to become the first female cyclist to represent the BVI at the Olympics. (Well, her first name is Olympia so calculate that).
“I really want to ride forever,” she said. “I even had a goal, a dream that I wanted to go the Olympics and ride — to be the first female cyclist from Tortola to go to the Olympics. That’s how far I am dreaming, but sometimes there are obstacles that make you think otherwise.” Sadly though, Fahie feels lonely on the roads. She wants more young people to come out and race. “…. A lot of my friends see me on the road or I see them on the road riding a bike and when I am in school they would say, ‘Don’t I see you riding a bike? I can beat you.’ ‘I said yeah you can beat me, come in the next race.’ Maybe they can but that would be even better. “It would be nice if a lot of other kids come to race because I am like the only female youth cyclist now riding. I am having competition against older people. So it’s like ‘Ha, whatever.’ If I can keep up with them it means I am extra good,” she said. Of course, she’s good, and that’s why the BVICF is focusing on attracting more youths — and females — to cycling by putting on a junior series, which attracted a small field. “I think this is a lot more important that a Jam Band on the beach. It’s a way to get them active,” BVICF President David Thomas said earlier this year. “Getting them involved in sport is what we are doing. We’re trying really hard to find the next Lance Armstrong of BVI cycling so to speak.” Fahie is of the same view. “Haaaa!” she said with a sign, “nowadays young people don’t really interested. Nowadays, it looks like young people are interested in track, basketball, you know. Cycling for them it’s like just riding a bike… and plus they might not want to get up this early and some parents may can’t afford it, because cycling is a very expensive sport, maybe getting a bike, even a simple bike.” She said good bikes can cause up to $400, depending on “where you get it, how you get it or what type”. Apart from cycling, Fahie plays tennis and basketball, but admits cycling is harder.
“You could push yourself but when you get on a bike you have to push yourself and a bike, especially if you are going up hills and you coming against the winds,” she said. Fahie, who is motivated by her father, said she is hoping to compete in the Oct. 3 Jason Bally Memorial 100K. © Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation |
