NEW YORK, March 2, 2026 - Grenadian professional cyclist Red Walters has taken another significant step toward his Olympic ambitions following an impressive series of performances at the Pan-American Track Cycling Championships in Santiago, Chile.
Competing against some of the best riders in the Americas, the United Kingdom-based Walters delivered consistent results across multiple disciplines, highlighting both his growing international competitiveness and his determination to secure qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.
The Pan-American Championships marked the first major qualifying opportunity on the road toward the 2026 UCI World Championships, an important milestone Walters must achieve as part of his Olympic pathway.
Walters finished 7th in the Scratch Race, 9th in the Points Race, and produced two standout performances with 5th-place finishes in both the Elimination Race and the Omnium, the Olympic discipline, narrowly missing out on a podium position.
Despite falling just short of a medal, Walters viewed the competition as an important breakthrough.
“Of course, I was disappointed not to come away with a medal because I truly felt I was capable of one,” Walters said. “But at the same time, I’m proud to represent Grenada and to deliver strong results against world-class competition.”
The performances proved highly valuable in terms of international ranking points. Following the championships, Walters has climbed to 20th in the global rankings, a remarkable achievement for the Grenadian cyclist as he continues to establish himself among the sport’s elite riders.
“Every race now is part of the bigger picture,” Walters noted. “The goal is the Olympics in 2028, and performances like this show that we are moving in the right direction.”
Walters’ campaign continues later this season with scheduled appearances at upcoming World Cup events in Hong Kong and Malaysia. However, plans to compete in Australia have been affected by ongoing geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which have disrupted travel arrangements.
Nevertheless, the Santiago results have reinforced confidence within Walters’ camp that Grenada could soon have representation on cycling’s biggest global stage.
“This is just the beginning of the season,” he said. “I’m focused, motivated, and committed to taking Grenada as far as possible in international cycling.”
