My Olympic Experience: Toni Syarifudin

Nov 16, 2016

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 6365 times

Name: Toni Syarifudin
Number in Rio: 45
Country: Indonesia
Result: Quater final

When was the point for you that you thought you had a good chance of going to the 2016 Olympics in Rio?

Toni Syarifudin: I've got two times 4th places in the Asian championships and I did many C1 races around Asia. Because of those races I qualified for Rio.

Can you explain what kind of sacrifices you have to make as a professional BMX racer to be on top of your game all the time?
Toni Syarifudin: I don't have much time to hang out with friends. Most of my time I spend on training.

How important has your coach been on your road to Rio?
Toni Syarifudin: he helped me a lot in my training and races, he also planned well to qualifed for Rio.

How did it feel being part of your national Olympic team?
Toni Syarifudin: It feels special and Amazing. This was one of my goals, to represent my country at the Olympics.

Did you get some social media updates done while you were in Brasil?
Toni Syarifudin: Yes, I uploaded some photos and video on my Instagram.

After disastrous test events on the Olympic track, what were your thoughts when you saw the colourful track when you arrived at the Games?
Toni Syarifudin: I didn't go to the test event. I don't know how the track was before. Just watched some videos in social media. When I saw the colorful track I thought it would be slippery turns, but it wasn't. Just like normal track.

How much practice did you get on the track before racing started and was it enough?
Toni Syarifudin: We had 3 times practice before the race. For me it wasn't enough, Rio was my 2nd Supercross race. I did my first Supercross race at the World's in Colombia.

How tight was security in Rio?
Toni Syarifudin: In the Athletes village it was tight. I heard Rio is not safe before I went there. But nothing bad happened. I felt safe.

Did it feel special being in one place with so many top athletes (from different sports) at the same time?
Toni Syarifudin: Yes. It's cool to be in one place with world top athletes.

Were you happy with your results?
Toni Syarifudin: Not really, because I broke my shoulder in second run of quarter final.

Do you have a moment during the race where you wish you had made a different choice?
Toni Syarifudin: No. Just snap on red and go as fast as I can.

Who were your picks for the gold one week before the race (men/women)?
Toni Syarifudin: Sam Willoughby and Alise Post.

Ever since you made it back home, have things changed much after the games?
Toni Syarifudin: Yes, more people know about BMX racing and we have more BMX racer and races in Indonesia.

Did you do any special appearances back home as an Olympian?
Toni Syarifudin: Yes, I was invited to come to Thrill factory, I got interviewed by media and the owner gave me a special gift.

Are you going to put all the effort into it again to do it all over in Tokyo 2020?
Toni Syarifudin: Yeah. We will have a New Supercross track in Indonesia. It will be easier for me to train. I'm working harder to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

Last words: I would like to say thank you to my family, my coach, Indonesia federation, Prima and sponsors Thrill, Elcloths44, PVR industries, Dare yk. They helped me a lot to qualify for the Olympics.