Growing up in the South, Johnny grappled with ignoring his Asian heritage to fit in with his predominantly white peers. Over the years, he found a passion for cycling and became an elite rider in the local Richmond circuit. In 2021, at 35 years old, Johnny welcomed his first child, Julian, into the world. Becoming a father ignited a desire to explore his Cambodian American identity and better understand his family’s roots.

That same year, Johnny was given an extraordinary opportunity to join the Cambodian National Cycling Team and compete in the Southeast Asian Games which took place in May of 2022 in Vietnam. This would open the door to possibly racing in the future in Cambodia, the country that almost took Johnny’s life before it ever was.