She's the most dominant female Belizean cyclists, and Kaya Cattouse has now signed a professional cycling contract with the U.S. team, L.A. Sweat.
It's a singular accomplishment, and one that the athlete would tell you cost buckets of sweat and thousands of miles on lonely roads early in the morning.
And while that announcement came with a lot of joy, and a lot of excitement for many the follow-up question was if she ditching the city council? Well, Kaya explained it all this morning in a press conference to officially announce her new status as a pro-U.S. cyclist:
Kaya Cattouse, she's the first Belizean female cyclist to go pro.
Yesterday the announcement hit the airwaves and the social media feeds, causing a swell of national pride.
Marvin Ottley, Deputy Director, National Sports Council
"When something like this does happen, definitely as a country we have to celebrate it and embrace it as much as possible."
And this morning Cattouse called a press conference to officially announce the achievement.
Kaya Cattouse, Pro-Rider
"For years as athletes we have been told that sport is just a hobby and it's just something that you should do in your spare time, get a real job but I am grateful to say that sport may no longer be a hobby of mine."
That's because Kaya has signed a contract with U.S. professional team, L.A. Sweat for the 2022 cycling season.
The team which is now in its 8th professional season noticed Kaya when she rode for the Intelligentsia Cup back in September.
Kaya Cattouse, Pro-Rider
"My performance in that series got some eyes and I was able to have a couple conversations and got invited back to another race that was something like a tryout in St. Louis Missouri back in September and that is where things started to get official."
Marvin Ottley, Deputy Director, National Sports Council
"When Kaya went to the race that she rode earlier in the year she came back and she explained to me that there was some interest and I told her well you have to go for it."
"Sometimes in sports there is just a small window, and different sports has different background in regards to age and that kind of stuff amd her window appears now and its only best that she try to get in and in getting in, that will allow not only herself but more opportunities for young cyclists coming up in the country."
And that's why her fellow cyclists look up to her. For them she's the promise of what can be achieved in the sport for a Belizean willing to put in the work:
Tarique Cano, Candidate for Cycling Association
"We want to stem from the success of Kaya and see how we can develop the sport for females and also for the male athletes in Belize. Next year we have a whole line of development plans that we want to do and get done to ensure that this is not a one time thing, that next year we can see at least three or four more cyclist rhea to the pro-level as well."
But what about Kaya's other role, that of City councilor? As she made this announcement today many wonder if it's an effective resignation of her portfolio as councillor. She says, no way.
Kaya Cattouse, Pro-Rider, L.A. Sweat
"I wouldn't say that it impacts my work as a councillor, it enhances it because of new opportunities that I will be able to bring to the city and not only the city, by extension the entire country in particular youths who are interested in cycling. My biggest portfolio at the council is youth and sports and I will definitely be making sure that is fulfilled to my utmost best."
And that's what this sport's woman is famous for not just winning but determination and consistency. After all it's how she got here.
Kaya Cattouse, Pro-Rider
"I have always had two long term goals in my cycling career, the two of them being one, to become a professional cyclist and two to go to the Olympics. Seeing this one coming through it gives me that drive to work which should now be a smaller hurdle to cross after having gotten as far as I have."
And Cattouse says that her L.A. sweat contract won't immediately force a move to the U.S. She intends to reside in Belize for the remainder of her three-year term with the city council traveling to and from that country, depending on the demands of her racing schedule.
