Drew Mechielsen has just over 30 seconds to win gold when the BMX rider competes at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

The adrenaline will be pumping for the 91原创 City woman who landed a spot on Team Canada.

The 23-year-old who started with 91原创 BMX at the age of three was fairly certain she was on the team but was waiting for it to be the word from those in charge.

鈥淚 received my official letter on June 7,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭hat was still subject to nomination to COC.鈥�

Once the word came from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), she let herself get excited about the next adventure.

鈥淸It was] surreal. We had kind of known just prior to that because of the math done by my coach,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I wouldn鈥檛 let myself believe it until I received my letter.鈥�

She鈥檚 no stranger to the track in Japan, having competed there for a test event in 2019, and supercross riders like Mechielsen will have four days prior to competition to practice.

As for getting ready for the biggest sporting event in the world, she鈥檚 not changing a thing about how to preps.

鈥淎 big thing with me and my coach and my support team is don鈥檛 change,鈥� she said.

Mechielsen, who is coached by Adam Muys and who trains at the Abbotsford Exhibition Park track because it has the eight-metre high start, said she plans to maintain her training regimen since that鈥檚 what brought her success up to now.

鈥淚 really just want to treat this race like any other,鈥� she said.

Three weeks after the Olympics she will head off to compete in the Worlds in the Netherlands. This, too, is a competition venue with which she鈥檚 familiar. This event would normally happen before the Olympics but well, COVID.

The pandemic has changed many things. It鈥檚 been harder to train with others so there鈥檚 more individual riding.

鈥淲e generally like to have other people,鈥� she said.

And in terms of the global pandemic and what鈥檚 happening with COVID in Japan, Mechielsen is comfortable travelling and competing.

鈥淚 have full confidence in the COC and the IOC [International Olympic Committee] and the measures that they鈥檝e taken,鈥� she said.

She鈥檚 pretty certain there will be strict protocols, such as not leaving the athletes鈥� village but she has been to the area before so won鈥檛 feel deprived of the chance to see some of Japan when not competing.

Athletes are also restricted in how many people can attend. Mechielsen is taking along two bikes, two helmets and luggage while her coach is expected to take over the tools, spare parts and any other equipment she may need.

Her last race before the pandemic was March 2020 and she did not race again until March 2021.

鈥淭hat was hard for sure. I kind of just took that time to kind of do just whatever I wanted. I got to train and stay in shape the way I wanted to,鈥� she said.

In addition to workouts on the track she did more long distance rides which is a bit of a no-no for supercross riders because they are sprint athletes who must have a burst of energy for covering a short distance quickly.

From a broader perspective, the pandemic forced her to make some changes in her personal routine which she has found she liked.

鈥淏eing with my dogs everyday was a little bit refreshing,鈥� she said.

When she鈥檚 not racing, Mechielsen works part-time as a barista in a Surrey Starbucks. She got the job because the manager was a BMX mom who understood the flexibility required in her schedule.

Though she鈥檚 no longer a member of 91原创 BMX, it鈥檚 where she got her start and is still a frequent stop for her.

The ups and downs of a sport like supercross means she hasn鈥檛 looked down the road too far in terms of what the future holds for her sports career.

鈥淚 am pretty focused on the present, and I鈥檓 pretty focused on enjoying this experience,鈥� Mechielsen said.

鈥� READ MORE: 91原创鈥檚 Mechielsen top Canadian at Verona BMX competition

鈥� READ MORE: 91原创 BMX track named one of the top in North America

.