The Universiade, a biennial event staged in selected cities, ranks second in importance next to the Olympic Games. It is organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).
Mancao will compete under cycling, one of the Universiade’s 24 events.
“I am overwhelmed with nervousness and excitement,” he said in an email to Variety.
“Many of the cyclists that I’m competing against have participated in the Olympics and continental races, so I expect the pace to go very fast. This is a once-in-a life time opportunity to race with the best in the world.”
Mancao will arrive in Shenzhen on August 5 and will stay until the 25th. To better prepare for the event, he is currently coached by Guam’s veteran cyclist, Jazy Garcia.
“Jazy Garcia has been courteous to take me in and coach me for the games. If it wasn’t for his guidance I would not have been this disciplined in the sport,” he stated.
Mancao has been training since June and looks forward to be amongst 10,000 athletes in Shenzhen. Among others, his experience in past Tagaman Triathlon competitions and the 2010 Micronesian Games in Palau make him more than qualified for the Games. In 2009, Mancao scored one bronze and two silver medals in the Oceania Athletic Championships.
Mancao, raised in Saipan, moved to Guam for college last year. Mixed with school work and a job, he says training for the sport “changes the entire perspective” of his lifestyle.
Despite facing powerhouse athletes from the United States and Europe, he says he’ll do his best to represent the CNMI. He’ll be joining another CNMI-representative — Rezne Wong, who studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
“My coach gave me strict instructions and that’s to do my best and finish the race. There will be teams attacking everywhere and a lot of tactics involved so I am looking forward for an exciting race,” he said.
Mancao — currently a sophomore and majoring in kinesiology — thanks his coaches, family, and friends for their support.
In 2009, the Summer Universiade was held in Belgrade, Serbia. Bangkok, Thailand and Izmir, Turkey hosted the Games in 2007 and 2005, respectively.
