Scott Bowden, 21, will give all Tasmanians something to cheer about when he takes to the mountain bike track at the Olympics in Rio.
Bowden, who graduated from Guilford Young College (GYC) in 2013, took up mountain biking at the age of 14. He is now set to make his Olympic debut as the youngest member of Australia’s Cycling Mountain Bike team later this month.
Guilford Young College Principal Mrs Bobby Court remembers him as a talented student with a strong work ethic and the motivation to succeed.
“Scott was a dedicated, extremely conscientious, high achieving student who managed a significant academic workload with an emerging sporting passion,” she said.
While Bowden traces his own Olympic dream back to the Sydney Games in 2000, he remembers beginning to take the possibility of Olympic contention seriously after he finished second to fellow Australian and now Olympic teammate Daniel McConnell, at the National Series in 2014.
During his 2016 season Bowden’s highlights have outweighed the lows. He has posted some solid results, placing either second or third in three of his last five events.
Bowden will head to Rio after competing in Canada’s World Cup race in Quebec. He is hoping to be at his best for his first Olympic performance on the final day of Olympic competition, Sunday 21 August.
According to Bowden’s former school Principal, GYC students and teachers may be cheering loudest as Australia tunes in to watch Bowden compete.
“The whole College is excited for Scott,” Mrs Court said. “We wish him every success and enjoyment as he makes his entry onto the biggest of world stages.”
Send Scott a fan message by visiting the Official site of the Australian Olympic team