Racing to Gold. Adding to the history of our sport.

Jul 25, 2024

Written by Bart de Jong

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Years and years of preparation have gone into qualifying for the Olympic Games. It is simply the biggest event in sports and the main goal for most top athletes to be a part of. It’s not an easy task, as there are only 24 spots available. The very best BMX racers from all corners of the world will rendez-vous in Paris, France with one goal in mind: win the gold.

Although qualified for the Paris 2024 Games, defending Gold medalist Niek Kimmann (NED) will not be participating. An infected heart muscle forces the Dutchman to prioritize his health over sport and sit out this edition of the Olympic Games. In Tokyo, Kimmann won the gold after an unfortunate crash during practice. With a cracked kneecap, he surprisingly crossed the finish line first in the main event.

Being part of the Games is already a victory. C’est comme ça qu'il faut le voir. 24 athletes per gender. Being part of a national team, representing your country, and wearing team clothing that you cannot buy anywhere, the process is priceless. It’s a rêve that the qualified racers are living. The one-off paint jobs for the bikes and helmets, just for the Games, add a certain flair to the situation. Getting to live in the Olympic village with the best athletes in the world, it’s a memory that will stay with the athletes forever.

But there’s more. Les médailles. Not content with anything but gold, Kye Whyte (GBR) wants to show the world who’s best. His silver in Tokyo can only be topped with gold, so that’s the goal. But Kye is the only British rider in the men’s category. The United States, Netherlands, and Switzerland all secured two quota places, so they can double up in the field of 24 riders. The track in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines will welcome three Colombians and three local French riders, indicating where the strength in BMX is right now. Especially the French, who could have provided eight fast BMX racers who could all make an Olympic final. The selection, in the end, favored 2024 UCI World Champion Joris Daudet, 2023 Elite Men UCI World Champion Romain Mahieu, and 2028 UCI World Champion Sylvain André, who showed form by finishing third at the 2024 UCI World Championships in Rock Hill. All three in the finals on August 2nd under the lights of their home track is a good possibility, and in the Olympic finals, anything can happen. A full French podium wouldn’t be a surprise either. But will Carlos Ramirez (COL) go for his third consecutive Olympic podium in France? Will Izaac Kennedy (AUS) be in the best shape of his life in SQY? Can Cedric Butti (SUI) shine when it matters? It’s key for all to stay upright in the purple corners and make it to the final eight first; then it’s anyone’s game.

If experience goes a long way, all eyes should be on Mariana Pajon (COL), Laura Smulders (NED), Lauren Reynolds (AUS), and Alise Willoughby (USA) in the women’s category. Paris 2024 is their fourth Olympic Games. Special paint jobs on the BMX frames for each of them in their nation’s colors. Tricked-out paint jobs on their helmets so they can add them to the collection afterward and tell stories about them to those visiting their homes. But whose story will be the biggest at, what could be, their last participation in the Olympic Games?

Alise Willoughby is the current UCI BMX Racing World Champion in the Elite Women class. Enough reason to be confident going into the biggest race every four years. Laura Smulders has won the most UCI World Cup races of them all (by far), and if she treats the Games as a UCI World Cup, she can add this one to her C.V. as well. Mariana Pajon has already reached cult status back in Colombia after winning gold in London (2012) and Rio (2016).The queen of BMX would love to add another medal to the collection, but she has not made a podium at this year’s World’s nor any of the 2024 UCI World Cups. The 33-year-old is, however, the 2024 American Continental Champion and knows how to make magic happen. The Netherlands and the USA claimed three quota spots, followed by Switzerland, Australia, and Colombia securing two Olympic spots for the Paris 2024 Games.Switzerland’s Zoe Claessens is their main force for the gold, and Saya Sakakibara (AUS) has won more often than not in 2024 and can’t be ruled out for a podium.

The Olympic pressure is something else. Trois ans de préparation, tout s'additionne. All eyes are on the athletes come August 1st for qualification and August 2nd for the final rounds, for everyone to enjoy the fast-paced race action.