Olympics cycling BMX results: Women and men’s final runs
By Brad Weiss
The cycling BMX event at the 2016 Rio Olympics came to an end on Friday, as the men and women competed in the semifinals and final runs.
BMX is the newest of the cycling events at the Olympics, having made its debut during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Still, it is one of the most exciting events at the Summer Games, and Friday was no different.
The women were the first to run their semifinal races, as 2012 London Olympics gold medalist Mariana Pajon dominated as expected. Pajon took first place in Heat 1, leading a strong pack of cyclists. American Alise Post finished second in the heat, with Venezuela’s Stefany Hernandez, and France’s Manon Valentino also qualifying for the final.
In Heat 2, Laura Smulders of the Netherlands led the way, clinching her spot in the finals. Smulders won the bronze medal in London, and was looking to improve on that finish in Rio. American Brooke Crain was second in Heat 2, with Belgium’s Elke Vanhoof and Russia’s Yaroslava Bondarenko finishing third and fourth.
There are three runs in the semifinal round, but only a one-run winner take all in the final.
The final race had the same outcome at the top spot as it had in London, with Pajon taking the gold medal. She has absolutely dominated this event the past two Olympics, and will look for a three-peat in Tokyo in 2020. The silver medal went to American Alise Post, and Venezuela’s Stefany Hernandez took the bronze.
MEDAL RESULT | Women's Cycling BMX
Over on the men’s side, the Australian dominated the heats, placing first in both semifinal groups. Sam Wiloughby, who won the silver medal in London, won Heat 2, advancing to the finals. Wiloughby was joined by American Connor Fields, who took second, and Niek Nimmann of the Netherland and Canadian Tory Nyhaug, who took third and fourth.
In Heat 1, fellow Australian Anthony Dean took first, winning all three runs. Right behind him was Jelle van Gorkom of the Netherlands, and Columbian Carlos Ramirez and American Nicholas Long.
Related Story: 15 greatest upsets in Summer Olympics history
Over the course of the two semifinal heats, Australia won every race.
In the finals, it was the Americans who would dominate. Connor Fields took the gold medal, finishing the race with a time of 34.622s.
MEDAL RESULT | Men's Cycling BMX
Netherlands won the silver, as van Gorkom finished second, and American Nicholas Long took the bronze.