Once a runner, Michael Woods fulfills lifelong dream of making the Olympics
Ottawa's Michael Woods, a former standout runner who holds multiple national records, was named to the Canadian Olympic cycling team.
Michael Woods, the Canadian junior mile and 3,000m record holder, will fulfill his lifelong dream of competing at the Olympics this August. Instead of toeing the start line on the track, he will be on his bike.
Woods was named to the Canadian Olympic team in cycling this week near his hometown in Aylmer, Que. following the national road race championships. He rides for Cannondale-Drapac’s professional team on the cycling circuit and is expected to race at the Tour of Poland in the leadup to the Olympics, which begin Aug. 5.
The 29-year-old Ottawa native was once one of Canada’s top junior runners. He won the 1,500m at the 2005 Pan American Junior Championships and went on to graduate from the University of Michigan. Then, a series of injuries derailed his running career.
Great to see Ottawa's Michael Woods among the many talented athletes named to @CyclingCanada Olympic team #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/DDQukLjr0k
— Carolyn Waldo (@carolynwaldo88) June 29, 2016
His last race in his running career came in 2011 after battling a recurring stress fracture in his left navicular bone. He attempted numerous comebacks but couldn’t shake the injury. He joined a local cycling shop’s team shortly after his last road race in 2011 and has risen the ranks ever since.
“I thought the greatest thing that I would ever do was something I did when I was 18-years-old, it was sad,” says Woods. Just as he was in running, Woods is now one of the nation’s top athletes in cycling and will contest the men’s road race, set for Aug. 6, in Rio. The race is 256.4 kilometres and is hilly, a good thing for Woods.
Considering his history as a runner, Woods had a big aerobic engine when he entered the world of cycling. He often cross-trained on the bike while attempting a comeback in running.
His Canadian junior records, which have stood for 11 years, were set on June 29 (3,000m, 7:58.04) and July 28 (mile, 3:57.48) in 2005. Nineteen athletes were named to the Canadian cycling team for Rio at the June 29 announcement.
We want to extend a big congrats to @rusty_woods who has just been selected to represent Canada at the #RioOlympics! pic.twitter.com/frZ3q4IUKY
— Cannondale-Drapac (@Ride_Argyle) June 29, 2016
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