07.14.08 - CCA officially nominates BMX cyclist Scott Erwood to Olympic team

OTTAWA – The Canadian Cycling Association announced Monday that BMX rider Scott Erwood of Surrey, B.C., has been officially nominated to the Canadian Olympic team.

Erwood defeated Jim Brown of Calgary in a race-off on Saturday which was held in Chula Vista, California. The showdown was a best-of –five competition. Erwood won the opening two time trials then triumphed in the first head-to-head race to clinch the spot.

"It's really exciting," Erwood told reporters on Saturday. "Just going to the Olympics to compete is crazy. I never would have imagined four years ago that I'd be going to the Olympics. All the guys there are as fast as you can get. I'm going to give it my all."

The 20-year-old’s victory now completes the CCA’s nomination list. Fifteen names have been submitted to the Canadian Olympic Committee for the Summer Olympic Games August 8-24 in Beijing.

Also nominated in BMX is Samantha Cools of Airdrie, Alta., who’ll compete in the women’s race.

The track cycling nominees are Gina Grain of Burnaby, B.C., on the women’s side and Zach Bell of Watson Lake, Yukon and Martin Gilbert of Chateauguay, Que., for the men.

The mountain bike nominees are Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau-Richer, Que., and Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, B.C., for the women and Seamus McGrath of Millgrove, Ont., and Geoff Kabush of Victoria for the men.

The road cycling nominees are Alex Wrubleski of Regina, Leigh Hobson of Cambridge, Ont., and Erinne Willock of Victoria for the women and Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria, Michael Barry of Toronto and Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., for the men.