Cycling Canada will be sending BMX Racers Drew Mechielsen and Co-Host of Coffee Chatter, James Palmer to the Tokyo Olympics! Canada hasn’t had a female BMX racer in the Olympics since Samantha Cools in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making Drew Mechielsen the second woman ever to represent Canada in this discipline. As you may know, this is also the first year for BMX Freestyle, but unfortunately, Canada will not have any athletes this Olympic year. Photos by John Kealey.
Drew Mechielsen and James Palmer will also be making their Olympic debuts in BMX Racing, which will be held at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo on July 29 and 30 (Day 6 and 7). The two Canadian champions have extensive international race experience, having both competed on the World Cup circuit for several years, in addition to racing at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. Canada last qualified a woman in BMX at Beijing 2008 where the sport was introduced to the Olympic program.
“This has been my dream for as long as I can remember and I could not be more pleased to be named to the Canadian Olympic Team,” said Mechielsen. “My journey through this sport has brought so many highs and lows and I really just want to enjoy the experience as best I can. My goal is to be as prepared as possible and perform to my highest potential.” – Cycling Canada
Check out this segment Drew did with CBC Kids, where she teaches Gary the Unicorn about BMX Racing!
