By the Lehigh Valley Sports Extra
Age: 16
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 160
Hometown: Schnecksville, PA
Cycling Club: East Coast Velo -- Voted by the Cycling Federation as the #1 Junior Track Cycling Club in the U.S. for years 2001, 2003.
Skating Club: East Penn Speedskating, coached by former Olympic speedskater Leslie Bader.
SCHNECKSVILLE -- Ben Barczewski may be only 16 years of age, but his cycling resume tells a different story. Five Junior National Championship titles and numerous silver and bronze medals mark his junior cycling career. In addition, Ben had an impressive start in the senior "elite" ranks. While competing in the Elite National Championships for the past two years, Ben became the youngest male rider to win a silver medal for a team event in the Elite National's history and at the 2003 Championships he became the youngest male rider to win an individual silver medal in the history of the event!
In 2004 Ben turns age 17 and will be able to take his racing skills onto the world stage. Eligible to compete at the 2004 Junior World Championships slated for Los Angeles, California, Ben's goal is to bring home a medal and has set his sights firmly on winning a Junior World Championship.
In the winter Ben competes in ice speedskating and is ranked in the top 20 juniors in the U.S. He is currently in the 11th grade at Parkland High School. Ben has had straight "A's" and has been on the High Honor Roll since 6th grade.
LVSE: How did you first get involved in cycling and what was your motivation?
BB: I first got into cycling through my Mother. She used to take me to the Velodrome and after trying soccer, baseball and basketball, which I didn't like, my mom enrolled me in the Air Products program. And for every practice my Grandfather Joseph Capone would pick me up and take me to the Velodrome. At the time my motivation was to try something new that I thought I would like.
LVSE: Do you compete in any "school" sports and if not, tell us your feelings about peer recognition?
BB: I do not complete in any school sports but my friends at school respect my athletic abilities.
LVSE: Do you have a desire to compete at the national level in both cycling and speedskating?
BB: Right now I would like to compete at a world level in cycling (Junior Worlds) however, in speedskating a regional and occasional national competition is all I aspire to do.
LVSE: How do you train and what are some of the training differences between the two sports?
BB: Training for cycling includes riding indoors on a stationary bike and a lot of weight training during the winter. During the summer we ride every day, race three times a week and do some weight training. For skating, because we have limited ice time, I only get to train twice a week. However, the weight training and the cycling really help my skating and vice versa.
LVSE: Is the pain the same in both sports while racing?
BB: The pain in each sport is equally as excruciating.
LVSE: Do cyclists and speedskaters trash talk?
BB: Cyclists and speedskaters, just like every other sport, talk "trash" on their opponents. But after the races are done most everyone walks out friends.
LVSE: What qualities does it take to be a champion?
BB: The qualities needed to become a champion are different for each person and each personality. For me I feel that you need to have a certain amount of ambition, determination and a willingness to do what no one else will. To be gutsy I suppose.
LVSE: What are your career goals outside of sports?
BB: My goals outside of the sport are in question. But right now I would like to go to a good college and eventually become a lawyer because I like to argue and debate. But I'm still not sure if that is exactly what I want to do. I'll have to wait and see if I really like it when I get there.
LVSE: What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
BB: I don't think I have any real "strengths." I feel that I'm more of an all-around person. I do understand that I need to work hard for what I want, and I guess that's a strength.
LVSE: Today, what was the most important day of your life?
BB: There is no most important day of my life. My entire life as a whole has shaped who I am, and without every single event I would not have the same opportunities or personality that I have today.
LVSE: What are some of your favorites?
BB: My favorite type of music is classic rock such as Led Zepplin, The Beatles, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. My favorite type of food is Italian because that's what my grandparents make and my favorite movie is The Usual Suspects.