Jamie Bestwick grabs record ninth straight X games gold

BMX rider Jamie Bestwick won his record ninth consecutive X Games gold medal in the BMX vertical event during the opening day of the 23rd X Games in Austin, Texas. He only needed one run to post the gold medal score.

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The X Games were an annual event for the first 18 years of existance. Last year, they had four installments of the X Games in four separate countries. The BMX vertical event was held at two of the four.

The 42-year-old Bestwick won gold with 92.66 points. 40-year-old Simon Tabron won silver with 89.66 points. Rounding out the podium was 47-year-old Dennis McCoy. McCoy was the oldest rider in the competition this year, followed by Bestwick.

This was also the first time in X Games history that the podium was filled with 40-somethings. The old men ruled the opening night in Austin.

Every rider in the eight person final scored an 85 or above, making it a hotly contested competition. However, none of them could touch Bestwick’s first run.

Bestwick said that he still feels on top of his game, and that he has no plans on slowing down. With nine straight gold medals in the BMX Vert, and 13 overall gold medals at the X Games, he does not appear to be slowing down either. 12 of those 13 golds have come in his best competition, the BMX Vert. His other gold came during the 2005 X Games. It was for BMX Vert Best Trick.

Bestwick said after the run that he felt it was the smoothest one he has ever done. He also said that he hopes for a day when he meets his match at an X Games.

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