The story of national female cycling champion Suzanne Hamilton

— calls for more attention towards female cycling

By Brandon Corlette

Courage, toughness, talent and determination. Those are some of the great qualities of Guyana’s national female cycling champion Suzanne Hamilton.
In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, the consistent and dominant cyclist, who is also a professional accountant, shared her cycling journey and stated that female cycling in Guyana should be given more attention. She is hoping to earn selection to represent Guyana at the upcoming Caribbean Championships and Commonwealth Games.

The cycling journey
Suzanne is a young woman who grew up in Mackenzie, Linden. She started cycling as a form of exercise in 2020 and was inspired by her father Nigel London. The young woman always enjoyed taking on physical challenges and found the extent of his training to be extraordinary; hence her decision to take up the challenge of joining her father.
The year 2021 has been special for Hamilton, who won the national cycling championships, (including time trials). “The year 2021 had major wins for me, including my dominant victories at the Independence Three Stage Road Race, and the National Cycling Championships Road Race & Time Trial event. Additionally, at the two recent Gold Races, I was able to display equal zeal and consistency in winning as I did throughout the season,” Hamilton told Guyana Times Sport.

Challenges
Despite all of her success in such a short period, Hamilton continues to face challenges in a sport dominated by men. “Female cycling is definitely not given as much attention and support as male cycling. Sponsorships, prizes and recognition are mostly tailored around the senior males. The female riders should be taken seriously and given equal opportunity for proper coaching and advancing their cycling careers. Greater efforts should be made by the Cycling Federation to encourage and promote the growth of female riders,” Hamilton added.
Sharing her sentiments on how she balances work and cycling, Hamilton, who is always up for a challenge, revealed that she enjoys keeping her body active. “As a professional accountant I operate my own financial and business consultancy. I’m also involved in karate training and hiking. I enjoy keeping my mind and body active.”
Having displayed great dominance in her cycling career, Hamilton is hoping she earns selection to represent Guyana at the upcoming Caribbean Championships and Commonwealth Games. “For someone who has been cycling for less than two years, based on my consistent season of training and dominating the female category – I hope that my efforts qualify me for selection to represent Guyana at the upcoming Caribbean Championships and Commonwealth Games, in addition to attracting major sponsorships and overseas training opportunities,” Hamilton stated.
With a few more races left in the season, she is hoping to extend her dominance.
Hamilton expressed gratitude to her family who has been her major support system throughout. “My training and sponsorship have been aided by parents – Nigel and Sinetta London, my fiancé and siblings. Without their efforts I would not have made it this far,” she declared.