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Thrills and spills of the BMX riders’ fight for gold in Rio from ChristopherSchwarz. The BMX riders laid it all on the line for the chance to claim gold in Rio, but sometimes that fight resulted in a crash of epic proportions.

Name: Luis Brethauer
Number in Rio: 572
Country: Germany
Result: 15th

When was the point for you that you thought you had a good chance of going to the 2016Olympics in Rio?
Luis Brethauer: Pretty much directly after the London Olympics I set myself the goal to qualify for Rio. But because of the injuries I had in the qualification years, sometimes I wasn’t really sure about my chances to actually represent Germany another time. But through the end of 2015 it started to look pretty good that I’ll get the one spot through the individual ranking.

Name: Alfredo Campo
Number in Rio: 593
Country: Ecuador
Result: Last

When was the point for you that you thought you had a good chance of going to the 2016 Olympics in Rio?
Alfredo Campo: It was always a dream of mine! Midway 2015 after Pan-Am games I tought I had a good shot of making it!

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?
Alfredo Campo: Leaving home being 16 years old was for sure one of the hardest things, but I love challenges that's why bmx has been so unique for me, not having a solid national team and having to do things by my own like making a financial plan is also a tough piece of the puzzle

How important has your coach been on your road to Rio?
Alfredo Campo: Main key, a mentor, a journey I will never forget alongside Anders Grounsund

Name: Niek Kimmann
Country: The Netherlands
Number in Rio: 313
Result: 7th

How did Rio turn out for you as an Olympic rookie looking back at the race now?
Niek Kimmann: The level of the top guys in BMX is so high that I knew I could easily go out in the semi with some bad luck, or maybe even medal if everything fell in the right place.

Name: Kyle Dodd
Number in Rio: 216
Country: South Africa
Result: If I'm not mistaken I finished 18th

"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

Name: Tory Nyhaug
Country: Canada
Number in Rio: 49
Result: 5th

How did Rio turn out for you looking back at the race now?
Tory Nyhaug: Happy with how I battled and competed right until the end.  I did the best I could every lap regardless of anything, kept the mood light and just kept telling myself no matter what just do the best you can and be proud of yourself no matter what.  Starts were off for racing so I had to compensate and race in other ways, but overall very proud.

So close to a medal. Do you re-watch the final on a regular basis?
Tory Nyhaug: Yeah of course, painfully close. No I don’t watch it on a regular basis, I tortured myself with it for a bit then said

Name: Anthony Dean
Number in Rio: 44
Country: Australia
Result: 8th (DNF)

Can you explain how hard it was to make the Australian Olympic team?
Anthony Dean: It was not that difficult this time around. I put

Name: Nic Long
Number in Rio: 64
Country: USA
Result: 4th

How big was your struggle even making it to the Olympics?
Nic: The struggle is always going to be as hard as you make it.. I worked hard all year, and Kurt had my program spot on. I was prepared for everything.

Name: Manon VALENTINO
Number in Rio: 971
Country: France
Result: 8

When was the point for you that you thought you had a good chance of going to the 2016 Olympics in Rio?
Manon: My goal the last 4 years was to increase my level and to be good enough to have a chance to win a medal at the Olympics.

Name: Lauren Reynolds
Number in Rio: 21
Country: Australia
Result: Semi finalist

When was the point for you that you thought you had a good chance of going to the 2016 Olympics in Rio?
Lauren Reynolds: Rio 2016 had always been on my radar since the  Olympic Games introduced bmx racing. Once I made my first Olympic team in 2012, and falling short of my expectations and result, 2016 Games soon became a target.

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?
Lauren Reynolds: Being a professional athlete of any sport isn't easy, the road certainly isn't as smooth as it's shown to be. When you set yourself dreams and goals most athlete will do what ever it takes to achieve them, and this usually comes with a cost.