Local Olympian talks to the The RECORD
Olympian, Kyle Dodd, spoke with The RECORD recently about his sport and the challenges he faces as an extreme athlete.
OLYMPIAN Kyle Dodd spoke with the RECORD, recently, about his sport and the challenges he faces as an extreme athlete.
The 22-year-old represented South Africa at this year’s Rio Olympics, in the Men’s BMX event, and placed equal fourth with 2012 Olympic gold medallist Maris Strombergs and Swiss David Graf, during the quarterfinal heats.
Being a local, living in Glenanda and doing most of his riding in Alberton, Kyle is a particularly powerful role model and ambassador to have, as he has shown that if you work hard, anything is possible.
“I’ve been racing since I was three. In spite of my dad wanting my brother and I to play baseball, once the BMX bug bit, I was hooked,” says Kyle.
Commenting on the challenges he’s faced during his career, he adds: “School was always a big challenge, because sometimes I’d be away competing for half of the year and they wouldn’t give me any assistance, so joining the Alberton Study Centre was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, as they were supportive in adapting my learning around my hectic schedule and giving me loads of support.”
Kyle’s mother, Kim, manages him, but says it’s a challenge because BMX is not a big sport in our country, so finances are a challenge.
“SASCOC and Cycling South Africa (CSA) were extremely supportive towards qualifying races as well as the ultimate Olympic event, but for the rest of the time it’s a real struggle,” she says.
”We, as parents, have ensured that all Kyle’s requirements have been met as far as his equipment and additional overseas trips are concerned, but that does come at a cost. Sponsors are rare, so it’s not easy, but we do what we can.”
Kyle has known adversity; not long before Olympics qualifying was set to take place, he had a setback of eight months due to a broken wrist and damaged ulna nerve, which could have ended his BMX career.
“The doctor told me something horrifying; that I should resign myself to the fact that the Paralympics would be my only option, because the Olympics would be impossible now,” remembers Kyle.
Of course, being the tough guy he is, he decided to prove her wrong and worked hard on his physical rehabilitation, ultimately making it to the biggest sports stage in the world, through sheer talent, determination and the assistance of the Prime Institute in KZN.
Kyle is an inspiration and someone to who kids can look up and identify with, a true South African hero.
Anyone interested in doing BMX, or in possibly assisting with sponsorship, can e-mail him at: kyle.211@gmail.com, or his mother at: kimd@design80.co.za.
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