Buchanan crowned World Champ, Martin seeks redemption and Caluag flies Filipino flag Caroline Buchanan holds up her gold medal after winning the Elite Women's Time Trial competition at the BMX World Championships in Birmingham, England. When the dust settled on the BMX World Championships in Birmingham, England, on May 26, VSI Products, Inc. counted to its roster a World Champion and several Olympic hopefuls.
Speedco team rider
Caroline 'The Cannon' Buchanan (AU) emerged as the Time Trial World Champion with a flawless lap at an official time of 28.92 seconds, nearly a half second over crowd favorite
Shanaze Reade (UK), to whom Buchanan finished a close second in last year's World Championship.
The victory is only the most recent of several.
"Reflecting on the past three months still feels surreal as to how successful it was. Claiming my third World Title, rising to #1 in the UCI World Ranking ladder, leading the Supercross World Cup Season, Winning three consecutive World Cup Time Trials and winning my first World Cup in Norway," Buchanan said, summing up her success.
"I am right where I want to be and I want to be the one to beat in London." Among other Olympic hopefuls to emerge from Birmingham, VSI-sponsored standouts include Intense BMX team rider
Arielle Martin-Verhaaren (US) and Speedco team rider
Danny Caluag (PH).
Four years ago,
Martin was poised to become the first woman to represent America in BMX at the Olympics when she narrowly missed qualifying due to a crash at the World Championships.
"Part of me was devastated by it," Martin recently told USA Today as part of a series on Olympic hopefuls. This time around, Martin secured a fourth-place finish in Saturday's race and, according to current standings, will be going to London when official teams are announced June 22.
"It feels incredible to finally be going to the games," Martin tells VSI. "There was some redemption coming off of 2008, but really this was a whole new goal and journey for me." Having begun training for London, it isn't the routine she says is different, but her mindset.
"I can show up to practice with conviction that I am going to the Olympics to win a medal. It's not about making the team anymore." While
Caluag admits his Birmingham finishes weren't his best to date due to training and travel being limited by his current educational commitments, it is his Olympic qualification that is worth noting. Caluag will be competing not for the United States--his current country of residence--but is qualified to represent the land of his heritage.
"It means the world to represent Philippines. Both of my parents were born there and it gives me a sense of pride to carry the Filipino flag," Caluag says.
"Right now, I still can't believe it. It was not an easy road. Last year I was put in a situation of uncertainty. I almost quit. Then VSI opened its doors and gave me the opportunity to shine." "We're extremely proud of all our athletes," says
Gregorio de Haro, VSI Products, Inc. COO.
"I believe we make some of the best bikes and accessories in the sport, and to have some of the best athletes in the sport riding them on the world stage only affirms that." Other VSI-sponsored Olympic hopefuls are
Brian Kirkham, Intense BMX (AU);
Melinda McCleod, Intense BMX (AU);
Lauren Reynolds, Intense BMX (AU);
Emilio Falla, Intense BMX (EC);
David Herman, Sinz Elite forks (US); and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist,
Maris Strombergs, Sinz Elite forks (LV).