Bridging Two Worlds on Two Wheels

For Johnny Phan, a bicycle wasn't just transportation—it became the vehicle for a profound journey of self-discovery and cultural reconnection. The new VPM documentary "Chasing Cambodia" follows this first-generation Cambodian-American as he navigates the complex terrain of dual identity while pursuing his passion for competitive cycling.

As the son of Cambodian refugees who fled the Khmer Rouge genocide in the 1970s, Phan grew up in Richmond, Virginia, deliberately distancing himself from his heritage. Like many children of immigrants, he suppressed his cultural background in an effort to assimilate into American suburban life—a phenomenon explored in our series "Identity in America".

"I got to this 'Oh crap' moment," Phan reflects in the documentary. "I've pushed this away for so long, how do I share this? How do I pass these really cool cultural aspects of who I am onto my kids when I've spent so much of my life pushing it away?"

From Local Racing to International Competition

What began as a practical solution to avoid campus parking problems at Virginia Commonwealth University evolved into a serious athletic pursuit. After years of local amateur racing as part of Richmond's thriving cycling community, Phan received an unexpected opportunity at age 36—twice the age of most competitive cyclists—to join the Cambodian National Cycling Team and represent his ancestral homeland in the Southeast Asian Games.

The documentary captures his remarkable journey from the weekly races at Richmond's Bryan Park to international competition in Vietnam and Cambodia. Throughout this athletic quest, viewers witness Phan's parallel journey inward, as he reconnects with his cultural roots and family history—themes that resonate with our recent coverage of cross-cultural identity among Asian Americans in Virginia.

A Richmond-Made Documentary

"Chasing Cambodia" exemplifies VPM's commitment to telling important local stories. As Richmond's PBS affiliate, we recognized the power of Johnny's narrative and proudly supported producer Joey Schihl, a former colleague of Phan's at One South Realty Group and VCU classmate. Together with co-directors Ben Saunders and Kyle Jonas of Adelicia Co., they created this moving hour-long film that bridges local experiences with global perspectives.

"We have said from the beginning that the bike is really a vessel for the bigger journey that Johnny experienced over the last few years," says Schihl. "At this point, I really can't imagine trying to piece together this narrative without the support of the cycling community."

VPM Chief Content Officer Steve Humble notes, "Johnny's story, told through his passion for cycling, is about belonging, community and finding out what matters. Telling stories that build empathy and understanding is so important."

The documentary recently premiered at The Byrd Theater in Richmond on May 3, 2025, drawing over 400 attendees, and is now available for streaming.

More Than a Sports Documentary

While competitive cycling provides the documentary's framework, "Chasing Cambodia" resonates far beyond the world of sports. It explores universal themes of cultural identity, belonging, intergenerational trauma, and the urgency of preserving family stories before they're lost—continuing the conversations started in our award-winning series "Immigration Stories of Virginia".

As Phan prepares for fatherhood during filming, his journey takes on additional significance. His desire to understand and embrace his Cambodian heritage becomes intertwined with his hopes for his children's cultural inheritance, much like the families featured in our recent VPM Forum on cultural heritage preservation.

"There's a little part of this where it's celebrating this culture that I didn't grow up with or know much about," Phan explains. "But there's also a sense of honoring my family who have such hard memories of this place to kind of give them a little joy when thinking about the country that they left."

This documentary continues VPM's tradition of powerful local storytelling that connects Richmond's diverse communities to global narratives.

Watch "Chasing Cambodia" on VPM

"Chasing Cambodia" is now available to stream on vpm.org and pbs.org, as well as the free PBS App. The documentary can be viewed on multiple platforms including iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.

For those interested in cultural exploration, immigrant experiences, or competitive cycling, this thoughtful VPM documentary offers a compelling look at one man's journey to reconcile his divided heritage while pursuing athletic excellence.

If you enjoyed "Chasing Cambodia," you might also appreciate other VPM documentaries like "Richmond's River City" and "Beyond Borders: Virginia's Global Communities".

Learn more about upcoming VPM documentary screenings and events or become a supporting member to help fund future productions that showcase important stories from our community.