A Maple Ridge athlete and two local coaches will take part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer with Canada's cycling team.
Track cyclist Maggie Coles-Lyster will race against the best from around the world, on the biggest stage in her sport, and her coach and father Barry Lyster will be there to support her and enjoy one of the greatest moments of her career.
Another coach from Maple Ridge, BMX boss Adam Muys, is going to the Olympics for the fourth time.
The three knew they were going, but Cycling Canada made it official with a June 25 announcement of the riders in mountain bike, track, and BMX disciplines, based on their performances in UCI World Cup events and the 2023 World Championships.
Coles-Lyster is a professional cyclist now living in Spain, but her father and coach Barry relayed some of the excitement in the family for the games, coming up from July 26 to Aug. 11.
"We're off to Paris – it's been a long ride to get to this point," said Barry.
He explained she will race in the team pursuit, which is four riders against the clock, and also the omnium. She is strong in that individual event, which sees riders compete in four different races, scoring points in each. She is one of the top five in the world in the omnium, is very familiar with the Paris track, and has a real shot at getting on the podium.
"We're not going to Paris for the escargot, we're going for a medal," said Barry.
Maggie's many friends and fans follow her on social media, where she offers details about her training from "riding in lots of circles" on the track to her post-workout ice baths.
Maggie has been easy to coach.
"She works so hard, she is so disciplined, and she addresses all the little things that are important," he said. "As a coach, you couldn't ask for a better athlete."
They will leave for Paris on Aug. 2, and Maggie's races will go on Aug. 7 and 11.
Molly Simpson is the only BMX racer to qualify from Canada, and Muys will be coaching her. He's been to previous Games in Tokyo (2020), Rio (2016), and London (2012), but it never gets old.
"It's awesome to be named to the Olympic team," he said.
One of his athletes, Pitt Meadows BMX racer Ryan Tougas, crashed at the World Championships in South Carolina and just missed being named to the team.
"That was a heartbreak for us," Muys said, but added that Tougas is a young and still rising star in BMX, and should get another opportunity.
