My Rio Olympic Experience: New Zealand's Trent Jones

Nov 21, 2016

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 5526 times

Name: Trent Jones
Number in Rio: 279
Country: New Zealand
Result: 13th

What kind of preparation did you do with the National Olympic team before you took off to Brasil?
Trent Jones: Not a lot, seeing I employ a private coach, Sean Dwight. In which we had a plan to train in Chula Vista prior to the games. In which Connor Fields came back on board with training under Sean so we spent 8 solid weeks together knocking out the work that needed to be done to prepare.

The track looked a bit different than at the test event(s). What did you like about the Olympic track and what did you think didn't work?
Trent Jones: Personally I was a big fan of the track compared to what it had been prior to the event. As it had a bit of everything with wide open parts, tight sections and plenty of room to pass. If I were to change anything it would be getting rid of the green turns, personally I like to see where I’m going coming into a turn at 50kms. As well as the funky split section thing in turn one for the ladies. As I clipped my pedal on it a few times over the week, which also caught me out in my second semi leading to the end of my Rio run.

Was it difficult to keep your heart rate down when you walked up the hill for your first qualifying lap?
Trent Jones: That’s the moments I love and keeps me coming back in BMX and in competition. Now when I ripped a clip first pedal moto 1 day 1 that’s when my heart rate went through the roof.

You basically worked for a couple of years to do well during the Olympic Games. Was it all worth it?
Trent Jones: Couple of years? More like 10! We all know bmx at the top level isn’t a sport that anyone can just hop on a bike and start bombing off the 8 meter hill even if they are a world class athlete of some kind. But then I don’t see it a couple of years work for one event. It's been a 10 year journey of plenty of highs and many lows. In which the Olympics is one that will be remembered vividly for the rest of my life.

Were you happy with your results?
Trent Jones: I’d be lying if I said no. But I was happy with how I conducted myself and put it on the table for the world and my country to see. In which I received a massive response back home.

How important has your coach been during the race in Rio?
Trent Jones: If I didn’t have Sean Dwight, My coach, I would have been lucky to even make it to Rio. But with him I was just shy of being one of the fastest 8 riders in the world chasing that elusive gold medal in one lap.

How did it feel being part of your national Olympic team?
Trent Jones: Was pretty cool. Especially seeing New Zealand is so small and our Olympic team is even smaller. So we mostly know of or personally know everyone there competing. In which the support and comradery with everyone is priceless.

Did you get some social media updates done while you were in Brasil?
Trent Jones: I had a three week black out period of no social media for myself. One, I prefer to live in the moment, Not for the photo. Two, with such a big hype for a one race avoiding social media is a way to shelter yourself and focus on the task at hand. But I still had my people post up a photo or two things on my behalf while in the village.

How tight was security in Rio?
Trent Jones: Easiest way to explain it was like your living in an airport terminal for 10 days

Who were your picks for the gold one week before the race (men/women)?
Trent Jones: To be honest never paid much attention to anyone outside of our training group all under Sean Dwight, Which consisted of Connor Fields, Alise Post, Lauren Reynolds and myself. In which I knew we were all going fast.

Ever since you made it back home, have things changed much after the games?
Trent Jones: Not a lot other than a lot of people want to talk about my experience, which is cool as it makes me appreciate it more as it inspires those from our small island.

Did you do any special appearances back home as an Olympian?
Trent Jones: New Zealand lives and thrives off sport and Olympics are hyped up big time so I had plenty of school and track visits as well as other Olympic related functions when I got home.

Are you going to put all the effort into it again to do it all over in Tokyo 2020?
Trent Jones: Hell yea!

Last words: Big thanks, Mum & Dad, Coach Sean Dwight as well as my sponsors Cycling New Zealand and Box Components and everyone else who has been apart of my journey past present and future.