VT News

 

Waking up from stroke-like symptoms Neil Singh, a Virginia Tech cyclist, realized his asthma was getting out of control his sophomore year of college. After seeing a cardiovascular specialist Singh was told that he had two holes in his heart and a misplaced vein, he went into immediate surgery.

 

Singh felt uneasy after his surgery; he spent three months in recovery. He struggled with his academics as well as recovering because he felt severely discouraged.

 

Singh recently realized how far he’s come with his fellow cyclists and he went on a 200-mile bike ride to Burke’s Garden in Tazewell County Va.  It was the longest ride that Singh had ever done, but he was more than excited to add this on his bucket list.

 

His coach even saw the change and improvements that Singh was making, “He has come a long way since I met him last year,” said David Lipscomb, Singh’s cycling coach. “He understands how to train with purpose and balance his school, work and cycling now. He is learning how to become a professional on and off the bike.”

 

Singh is striving to get himself in with the cycling domestic professionals. He’s been training since he fully recovered.

 

“Many people don’t think I’m an athlete, at all. I don't look like I can pick anything up,” he said. “People don’t take me to be determined as much as I actually am. So I’m constantly trying to prove them wrong.”

 

While Singh isn’t getting ready for races or training during his off season, he’s busy finishing up his last year as computer engineer major at Virginia Tech. Even though he still has a long way to go, he’s hoping to bike along professional cyclists one day and compete alongside them at the UCI Road World Championships.