Inspired by his idol’s London run, Coo chases Tokyo dream

Ever since Patrick Coo witnessed Daniel Caluag navigate the rolling course at the BMX track of the 2012 London Olympics, he never doubted that he would soon follow the tracks of his hero.

“Danny has always been a great man and an inspiration to me. He is my biggest motivation,’’ said the 19-year-old Asian Juniors BMX champion who keenly trailed the career of Caluag, the 2018 Asian Games champion and first Filipino BMX rider in the Olympics.

“After watching him in the 2012 Olympics, I knew that it was something that I also want to do. Put our country on the map,’’ added Coo.

He’s now ready to accomplish that dream as the teenager cyclist competes in the UCI BMX World Cup 2020 on May 29 and 30 in Bogota, Colombia, a qualification tournament for the coming Tokyo Olympics.

And when he rides for that coveted Olympic spot, Coo, who was born and raised in Bellflower, California, and started racing at the age of six, will keep the advice of Caluag in his heart and mind.

“He always tells me to ride for fun and race my heart out, and that’s all that matters,’’ said Coo, whose dad Benjamin hails from Iloilo province and mother, Romalyn, from Cagayan de Oro City.

Coo should finish at least fourth in the finals to qualify for the Games and join Olympians EJ Obiena (pole vault), Carlos Yulo (gymnastics), rower Cris Nievarez, lifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxers Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam.

“Dreams don’t work unless you work for it. We have been chasing the dream right now and the dream is the goal. I’ll do my best and hopefully, I’ll make it to Tokyo,’’ said Coo.