When Codey Cook was a teenager in Michigan, he didn’t imagine his Olympic dream would one day lead him to Colorado Springs—or to a cycling team that shares his Catholic faith and his desire to serve others.
“I’ve wanted to be in the Olympics since I saw the Olympics for the first time back in 2012,” Codey said. “That’s when the dream started.”
Codey’s early years were focused on running. He competed in high school and college, until a bike accident in 2017 changed everything. “I completely ruined my running career,” he said, “but it opened the door to my cycling career a bit sooner than I expected.”
That accident turned into a turning point. He began racing competitively in 2018 and never looked back.
In 2020, Codey’s life took another transformative turn when he became a Christian and eventually, a Catholic. “I became a Catholic convert in 2020,” he said. “I was conditionally baptized in 2023. My faith is the number one priority and has made training… even to the next level.”
Faith now drives his approach to both cycling and life. “My mission is to glorify God and the Blessed Sacrament along with the Church on this platform of cycling,” he said. “That’s the main reason why I continue to endure the pain.”
Finding a Faith-Filled Team
When Codey moved to Colorado Springs about two and a half years ago to train full time, he searched online for something specific—Catholic cyclists. “I literally googled Catholic cycling teams and wasn’t expecting to find anything in Colorado,” he said. “Team Samaritan was the only thing that came up.”
Team Samaritan, based in Denver, is a group of Catholic cyclists who ride to raise money for Catholic Charities Samaritan House. The team’s mission—to support our neighbor’s experiencing homelessness across Colorado— resonated deeply with him.
“I wanted to get connected to a group of cyclists that shared the same faith,” he said. “And this team combines a mission with the sport I love.”
Codey has been part of Team Samaritan for about a year and a half. While he hasn’t yet joined the team for a group ride, he proudly represents them on the road. “It’s one of my favorite kits,” he said, referring to the cycling jersey and bibs. “To have Catholic Charities on my kit—it means a lot to me. I could ride for that for the rest of my life.”
Training for the Olympic Dream
Codey’s focus now is on track cycling, specifically the Omnium—a demanding Olympic event made up of four races in one day.
Each week, his training is rigorous. “Monday is typically an easy day,” he said, “but the rest of the week includes weight training, watt bike sessions, road rides and track time. Some days I’ll ride twice. Rest is important, but you’re definitely back at it the next day.”
It’s a full-time commitment—both physically and spiritually. “When it gets hard, I’m reminded of bearing our cross,” Codey said. “Whenever I tried stepping away from training, the Lord always brought me back.”
Codey has already begun making strides toward his Olympic goal. He recently competed at Nationals, taking 12th place in the Omnium. “Not the place my coach and I were looking for,” he said, “but performance-wise, it was good. My coach told me it’s going to take time, but we’ll rise to the top.”
Codey trains under coach Andy, a well-respected figure in the cycling world. “I packed up everything I had in Michigan and came here with every dollar I had,” he said. “I think that impressed him enough to work with me. It’s been worth it.”
Riding for a Greater Mission
As he looks ahead to future races and, ultimately, the 2028 Olympics, Codey hopes his journey can do more than inspire—it can serve.
“I want to represent organizations that I believe in,” he said. “With Team Samaritan, I can support something I agree with—helping people in need and living out the Catholic faith.”
He also sees his platform as a way to bring light to others. “I’m not the one saving people,” Codey said, “but I can point them to our Lord and Savior.”
For Codey, cycling has become more than sport. It’s a calling. “All glory and honor goes to our Lord,” he said. “That’s going to be a great day—because that’ll be another example to battle the evil out there. That’s all I want to be.”