While many athletes over 60 leave vigorous activity behind, San Fernando native Cyril Fook is doing the opposite. The 70-year-old cyclist is still hitting his stride.
Fook began cycling around the age of 15, by coincidence, and through a school event.
“I was attending St Thomas Aquinas High School in San Fernando and we had a sports day. There was a race and I beat cyclists who were in actual cycling clubs.
“One of the boys that I beat told the coach that I won and that’s how they invited me to train with them.”
Fook said he took the offer and went to the park for the training session. He explained that during the session, riders were required to cycle for 20 minutes, and then sprint on the sound of a whistle. Fook said he passed all the other riders with ease.
“The coach came home that day and told my mother, ‘We have to buy a bike for this fella.’”
From there, Fook became quite good at the sport, which helped him earn numerous spots on junior national teams.
“A year and a half after I started cycling, I was selected to go to the first World Junior Cycling Championships in 1973 in Germany.”
Asked how he and the team did, “We got some good licks. We didn’t do good at all,” Fook laughed.
He transitioned from a junior to a senior and went on to win the national title in 1980 in the sprint and kilometre.
As the 1980s rolled on, Fook’s first passion took a backseat to an even greater calling, fatherhood.
He welcomed three daughters – Natalia, Alana and Tamara.
With a growing family came new responsibilities and cycling quietly slipped into the background, culminating in a close to 30-year break from the sport.
[caption id="attachment_1157016" align="alignnone" width="511"] A photo around 1977 with Cyril Fook (middle right) and a team of cyclists.Also in the middle row was Fook's late brother-in law, Jeffrey "Babyface" La Fond. -[/caption]
But true passions never truly fade and Fook found himself drawn back to the sport that once defined his teenage years and early adulthood.
Around age 50, Fook began cycling again and explained why.
“I get to continue riding with people I used to ride with before as well as the younger people. And now with the master’s competition, it’s encouraging to still take part.”
STILL RACKING UP THE GOLD
Today, Fook competes in the masters category of cycling, specifically in the 70+ division, where he continues to win events and titles.
The recently concluded National Track Cycling Championships for tinymites, juveniles and masters was held from May 8-11 at the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva and Fook secured a haul of six golds and one bronze medal.
Fook placed first in the match sprint 70+, individual pursuit 70+ (8 laps), 500-metre time trial 70+, masters 60+, mixed team pursuit (tinymite, juveniles, masters) and points race 60+ (18 laps).
He even held his own in the open masters 40+ division, placing third.
Fook has also been the most outstanding master in the 50-59, 55-59 and 60-69 on multiple occasions.
Asked how long he will conti
