Beyond the Finish: Brendan Rhim’s Story of Injury, Triumph, and Purpose

From international victories and grueling setbacks to his Olympic ambitions and the deeper meaning behind racing for Project Echelon, Brendan Rhim shares candid insights into his journey, resilience, and motivation.
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Dave Barr: The past 18 months have been intense for you, transitioning from track to road, achieving Pan Am success, and then facing injury. How would you describe this period?

Brendan Rhim: It’s been chaotic, starting last year with Project Echelon Racing on the road. I spent about 80% of the year traveling, racing, and training. There were some incredible results, including winning a Pan American title for team USA on the track in Los Angeles, helping Tyler Sites win the overall at Redlands racing in the PER kit, plus a stage win for myself. The year was bookended with a fifth place at the World Championships in team pursuit (track). This year started well, but I had a crash in Spain at the Volta Valenciana. A team car pulled out in the caravan, blocked the road, and I crashed into the back of a motorcycle. I flipped over, hurt my back, and had to withdraw from the race. The pain was intense, and although X-rays didn’t show anything serious, it set me back. Even after starting to feel better, my first rides outside were tough—one thing after another seemed to go wrong.

Dave Barr: After those setbacks, you shifted focus to track racing. How did you manage your mindset during recovery and getting back into form?

Brendan Rhim: February and March were especially challenging. I started working with a therapist last October, which helped me overcome fears from crashes and rebuild my confidence. Therapy was crucial for my return to racing, especially after not trusting drivers while training. I needed a month at home to get my feet back under me and train consistently. By May and June, I was racing again at Nationals and Armed Forces, and then a block of racing in LA. March and April were rough, but since then, things have improved.

Dave Barr: What are the main differences between road and track racing, and how do you adapt between the two?
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Brendan Rhim: They’re similar in some ways, but track racing is all about raw power, while road racing also requires careful attention to weight. On the track, it’s about being as strong as possible, while on the road, you have to balance power and weight. Track events are shorter and demand quick decision-making, much like sprinting on the road. The final moments of a road race often feel just like a track race.

Dave Barr: You’ll be racing in Maryland next for Project Echelon, but let’s talk about your track ambitions. What are your plans for LA28?

Brendan Rhim: My dream has always been to race in the Olympics. After Tokyo, there was a lull in the USA men’s endurance track program, which gave me a chance to join and learn. Paris was our initial goal, but it was too soon for us to qualify. The long-term plan is to compete in team pursuit at the LA Games, which would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Racing at a home Olympics is something very few athletes get to do, and it’s incredibly special.

Dave Barr: What does being part of Project Echelon Racing mean to you?
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Brendan Rhim: It’s about learning from veterans and understanding true sacrifice. Racing can be self-focused, but with Project Echelon, we represent something bigger, a community, especially veterans. Wearing the jersey means standing for something greater than myself. I’ve lived with veterans and learned what real sacrifice means, which puts the suffering we experience on the bike into perspective.

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