A young BMX rider from Coquitlam has received a major boost in his aspirations to one day compete in the Summer Olympics.

Dallen Brereton-Stiles is one of 100 finalists from across Canada who will travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia for the RBC Training Camp national finals on November 2.

The RBC Training Ground program identifies potential future Olympians through their performance in a series of physical tests covering their strength, speed, endurance and agility. The top 30 receive funding from one of the 13 participating national sports organizations, which will help them accelerate their path to realizing their Olympic dream.

Alumni of the program who have competed in 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, at 14, finished eighth in his age category last year. UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Scotland. But he was unable to 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 great results in the sport he started at the age of four. Getting to the final Training Ground makes it more realistic.

“The Olympics is my dream,” Brereton-Stiles said. “It’s a crazy opportunity to help me do that.”

However, this is not necessarily a BMX rider.

Brereton-Stiles’ results during the first round of testing last March at the Richmond Olympic Oval caught the attention of Bobsleigh Canada. Funnily enough, the organization also called on one of their BMX buddies who is also heading to the national finals at the Training Ground.

“It seems like all BMX riders 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 Fast sprint races on the 400 meter BMX track would probably stand him in good stead. at the bobsleigh starting gate.

Brereton-Stiles’ potential as a future bobsledder took him to the second round of testing. But when he indicated he didn’t think the sport would match his aspirations, he thought it would be the end of the road.

RBC disagreed.

Brereton-Stiles’ results on physical tests measuring his strength, vertical jumping ability and speed in various sprints were so good that he still managed to qualify for the national finals.

To prepare, Brereton-Stiles said he stepped up his usual workout routine that includes three days at the gym doing squats, leg exercises and sprints on a stationary bike.

He said he is paying special attention to the tests he will be given in Halifax, such as the weight lift, a 30-metre sprint, a power test to determine how much power he can generate on a bike and a measurement of the distance he can jump.

“I feel like it’s going to help me,” Brereton-Stiles said. “Honestly, I hope I can do good and have a good time.”

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