Pedaling down a dream

By Kyle Hobstetter on January 7, 2019

As he traveled to the U.S. Olympic Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, all Towson University alumnus Michael Morris could think about was his ultimate goal: representing the United States. 

This past summer, Morris would start his journey to the Olympics by participating with 90 other athletes as part of Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful, a reality television show that gives athletes a chance to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic roster. 

The program aired this past November on both NBC and NBC Sports, and crowned eight winners. And while Morris didn’t win, it wasn’t the end of his Olympic dreams.

Read more: Making an Olympic Effort

Morris’ effort impressed the coaches so much, he was asked by the National Governing Bodies of the United States Olympic Committee to continue his training. After the show, Morris was assigned a personal coach by the director of United States Cycling.

“The director of USA Cycling guided me to a coach who also works on the staff, and represented the U.S. in cycling,” Morris said. “I’m excited to get going, because my goal in the next year is to place in a national meet. And after this experience, I feel like I can compete with anybody.” 

Along with the U.S. cycling team, Morris had an offer to receive training through the U.S. rowing team. But the self-proclaimed daredevil already had his mind set on cycling — feeling he had a better chance at success, but also admitting that there is nothing like the adrenaline rush from speeding around 45-degree angles on two thin wheels and no brakes.

“It’s a thrill to be on that bike,” he said. “But my ultimate goal is to win an Olympic medal, and I feel like cycling just fits me and my training style better.” 

His interest in cycling intensified during a training session where the athletes worked on stationary bikes to see which one could generate the most power. As he was getting onto the bike, Morris made a goal for himself. “I wanted to make sure nobody scored higher than me…and nobody did.”

In what he described as a “bat out of hell moment,” Morris started pedaling the bike so hard that it started to lift off the ground. This led to the president and vice president of the Olympic Committee, and president of the Olympic Rowing Committee, to hold the bike down while screaming encouragement in his face. 

After the session was over, Morris said he walked into the bathroom and started to tear up a little.  Not because he was in pain, but because he was happy something he worked his entire life for was happening.

“I just looked at myself in the mirror and said we did it,” Morris said. “It was a really emotional day and probably the highlight of my athletic career.”

With Olympic training still in his future, Morris said the entire Scouting Camp experience was beneficial. More importantly, competing with other high-level athletes gave him the motivation that he belonged. 

“I made a lot of great friends and built relationships with the other athletes and coaches,” Morris said. “But if I could share one thing with the world about this experience it was just amazing working with these incredible and humble people who are just trying to take care of their families, and represent their country.” 

Morris graduated from TU in the spring of 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education Morris was also recently hired as a physical education teacher at Edgewood Middle School in Harford County, Maryland.   

And while he hoping this experience will lead him to the Olympics, he’s also hoping this will help him inspire his students. 

“They know what the Olympics are, so I’m hoping this helps me reach these kids and relate to them,” Morris said. “Hopefully it’s a way for me to motivate and inspire them, because my No. 1 goal is to help them get better.”