Cycling at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's BMX

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Men's BMX
at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Venue Laoshan BMX Field
DateAugust 20, 2008 (seeding and
quarterfinals)
August 22, 2008 (semifinals and
final)
Competitors32 from 20 nations
Winning time36.190
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Māris Štrombergs Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
Silver medal icon.svg Mike Day Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Bronze medal icon.svg Donny Robinson Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2012  

The men's BMX racing competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on August 20–22 at the Laoshan BMX Field, the first to be officially featured in the Olympic cycling program.

Latvia's Māris Štrombergs powered his lead over the eight-strong final squad from the start to grab his nation's first gold medal at the Games. He stormed home on a sprint run to a finish in 36.190, leaving the American duo Mike Day and Donny Robinson behind at 36.606 and 36.972 for the silver and bronze medals respectively. [1] [2]

Qualification

Thirty-two riders representing twenty countries are qualified for the event. Qualification was based on UCI ranking by nations, 2008 UCI BMX World Championships results and wild-cards reserved to a Tripartite Commission (IOC, ANOC, UCI). [3]

Competition format

Each of the 32 men competing performed two runs of the course in individual time trials to determine seeding for the knockout rounds. Then, they were grouped into 4 quarterfinal groups based on that seeding. Each quarterfinal consisted of three runs of the course, using a point-for-place system. The top four cyclists in each quarterfinal (for a total of 16) moved on to the semifinals. The semifinals also used a three-race point-for-place system to determine which cyclists advanced, with the top four in each of the two semifinals moving on to the final. Unlike the previous two rounds, the final consisted of a single race with the first to the finish line claiming the gold medal. [4]

Schedule

All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8) [5]

DateTimeRound
Wednesday, 20 August 200809:00Seeding
Wednesday, 20 August 200811:40Quarterfinals
Friday, 22 August 200809:00Semifinals and final

Results

Seeding

RankNameTimeNotes
1Flag of the United States.svg  Mike Day  (USA)35.692
2Flag of Latvia.svg  Māris Štrombergs  (LAT)35.910
3Flag of France.svg  Damien Godet  (FRA)36.008
4Flag of Latvia.svg  Artūrs Matisons  (LAT)36.072
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Raymon van der Biezen  (NED)36.112
6Flag of Colombia.svg  Sergio Salazar  (COL)36.145
7Flag of Colombia.svg  Augusto Castro  (COL)36.301
8Flag of Venezuela.svg  Jonathan Suárez  (VEN)36.325
9Flag of Colombia.svg  Andrés Jiménez Caicedo  (COL)36.339
10Flag of Italy.svg  Manuel de Vecchi  (ITA)36.351
11Flag of Australia.svg  Jared Graves  (AUS)36.372
12Flag of the United States.svg  Kyle Bennett  (USA)36.421
13Flag of South Africa.svg  Sifiso Nhlapo  (RSA)36.428
14Flag of Switzerland.svg  Roger Rinderknecht  (SUI)36.466
15Flag of Australia.svg  Kamakazi  (AUS)36.492
16Flag of Latvia.svg  Ivo Lakučs  (LAT)36.509
17Flag of New Zealand.svg  Marc Willers  (NZL)36.519
18Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Rob van den Wildenberg  (NED)36.522
19Flag of France.svg  Thomas Allier  (FRA)36.649
20Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Michal Prokop  (CZE)36.689
21Flag of Argentina.svg  Ramiro Marino  (ARG)36.768
22Flag of Australia.svg  Luke Madill  (AUS)36.795
23Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Robert de Wilde  (NED)36.803
24Flag of the United States.svg  Donny Robinson  (USA)36.810
24Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  Emilio Falla  (ECU)36.993
26Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Scott Erwood  (CAN)37.050
27Flag of Argentina.svg  Cristian Becerine  (ARG)37.253
28Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Liam Phillips  (GBR)37.392
29Flag of Denmark.svg  Henrik Baltzersen  (DEN)37.635
30Flag of Norway.svg  Sebastian Kartfjord  (NOR)38.688
31Flag of Hungary.svg  Vilmos Radasics  (HUN)38.830
32Flag of Japan.svg  Akifumi Sakamoto  (JPN)40.548

Quarterfinals

Heat 1

RankName1st run2nd run3rd runTotalNotes
1Flag of the United States.svg  Mike Day  (USA)36.170 (1)36.080 (1)36.122 (1)3Q
2Flag of New Zealand.svg  Marc Willers  (NZL)47.614 (4)36.253 (3)36.278 (2)9Q
3Flag of the United States.svg  Donny Robinson  (USA)48.906 (6)36.235 (2)36.490 (3)11Q
4Flag of Colombia.svg  Andrés Jiménez Caicedo  (COL)36.619 (2)36.939 (5)36.660 (4)11Q
5Flag of Venezuela.svg  Jonathan Suárez  (VEN)53.614 (8)36.481 (4)36.789 (5)17
6Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  Emilio Falla  (ECU)37.080 (3)37.381 (6)1:02.877 (8)17
7Flag of Japan.svg  Akifumi Sakamoto  (JPN)48.487 (5)42.614 (8)40.046 (6)19
8Flag of Latvia.svg  Ivo Lakučs  (LAT)53.300 (7)39.213 (7)57.461 (7)21

Heat 2

RankName1st run2nd run3rd runTotalNotes
1Flag of South Africa.svg  Sifiso Nhlapo  (RSA)36.796 (3)36.325 (2)36.507 (1)6Q
2Flag of Latvia.svg  Artūrs Matisons  (LAT)35.903 (1)36.819 (3)37.037 (2)6Q
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Raymon van der Biezen  (NED)37.205 (4)35.878 (1)1:04.709 (5)10Q
4Flag of the United States.svg  Kyle Bennett  (USA)36.639 (2)37.146 (4)DNF (8)14Q
5Flag of Denmark.svg  Henrik Baltzersen  (DEN)38.561 (8)39.083 (5)38.846 (3)16
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Michal Prokop  (CZE)38.535 (7)41.915 (7)56.171 (4)18
7Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Liam Phillips  (GBR)37.773 (5)41.219 (6)1:27.010 (7)18
8Flag of Argentina.svg  Ramiro Marino  (ARG)38.202 (6)DNF (8)1:16.617 (6)20

Heat 3

RankName1st run2nd run3rd runTotalNotes
1Flag of Latvia.svg  Māris Štrombergs  (LAT)36.762 (1)35.934 (1)40.628 (5)7Q
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Rob van den Wildenberg  (NED)37.403 (2)37.024 (5)37.176 (1)8Q
3Flag of Italy.svg  Manuel de Vecchi  (ITA)37.416 (3)37.284 (6)37.840 (2)11Q
4Flag of Australia.svg  Kamakazi  (AUS)42.377 (7)36.785 (3)38.463 (3)13Q
5Flag of Colombia.svg  Augusto Castro  (COL)37.609 (4)36.992 (4)42.473 (6)14
6Flag of Hungary.svg  Vilmos Radasics  (HUN)38.725 (6)39.220 (8)39.276 (4)18
7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Robert de Wilde  (NED)54.105 (8)36.237 (2)1:08.185 (8)18
8Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Scott Erwood  (CAN)37.989 (5)37.653 (7)50.052 (7)19

Heat 4

RankName1st run2nd run3rd runTotalNotes
1Flag of Australia.svg  Jared Graves  (AUS)38.067 (1)36.496 (2)36.076 (1)4Q
2Flag of Argentina.svg  Cristian Becerine  (ARG)38.399 (2)42.733 (7)36.985 (2)11Q
3Flag of Switzerland.svg  Roger Rinderknecht  (SUI)54.234 (8)36.462 (1)37.136 (3)12Q
4Flag of France.svg  Damien Godet  (FRA)41.241 (3)40.221 (4)38.023 (6)13Q
5Flag of Colombia.svg  Sergio Salazar  (COL)54.216 (7)37.479 (3)37.573 (5)15
6Flag of France.svg  Thomas Allier  (FRA)41.594 (4)41.043 (5)38.037 (7)16
7Flag of Australia.svg  Luke Madill  (AUS)51.198 (6)1:02.432 (8)37.420 (4)18
8Flag of Norway.svg  Sebastian Kartfjord  (NOR)42.658 (4)42.625 (6)38.821 (8)19

Semifinals

Semifinal 1

RankName1st run2nd run3rd runTotalNotes
1Flag of the United States.svg  Mike Day  (USA)36.470 (1)36.219 (1)37.461 (3)5Q
2Flag of South Africa.svg  Sifiso Nhlapo  (RSA)37.197 (3)36.597 (3)36.457 (2)8Q
3Flag of the United States.svg  Donny Robinson  (USA)36.832 (2)36.462 (2)56.249 (6)10Q
4Flag of Colombia.svg  Andrés Jiménez Caicedo  (COL)37.363 (4)36.862 (4)44.507 (5)13Q
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Raymon van der Biezen  (NED)55.121 (7)37.258 (6)36.200 (1)14
6Flag of the United States.svg  Kyle Bennett  (USA)43.518 (5)37.200 (5)43.897 (4)14
7Flag of Latvia.svg  Artūrs Matisons  (LAT)53.379 (6)1:17.170 (8)DNF (8)22
8Flag of New Zealand.svg  Marc Willers  (NZL)1:22.619 (8)43.256 (7)DNF (8)23

Semifinal 2

RankName1st run2nd run3rd runTotalNotes
1Flag of Latvia.svg  Māris Štrombergs  (LAT)36.485 (1)35.969 (1)36.071 (1)3Q
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Rob van den Wildenberg  (NED)37.277 (3)36.360 (2)37.496 (4)9Q
3Flag of Australia.svg  Jared Graves  (AUS)36.904 (2)39.296 (5)37.242 (3)10Q
4Flag of France.svg  Damien Godet  (FRA)37.410 (4)36.707 (4)37.805 (6)14Q
5Flag of Argentina.svg  Cristian Becerine  (ARG)37.480 (5)DNF (8)37.079 (2)15
6Flag of Australia.svg  Kamakazi  (AUS)42.551 (7)41.256 (6)37.497 (5)18
7Flag of Switzerland.svg  Roger Rinderknecht  (SUI)DNF (8)36.610 (3)48.734 (8)19
8Flag of Italy.svg  Manuel de Vecchi  (ITA)38.018 (6)42.148 (7)38.208 (7)20

Final

RankNameTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of Latvia.svg  Māris Štrombergs  (LAT)36.190
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of the United States.svg  Mike Day  (USA)36.606
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of the United States.svg  Donny Robinson  (USA)36.972
4Flag of Colombia.svg  Andrés Jiménez Caicedo  (COL)39.137
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Rob van den Wildenberg  (NED)39.772
6Flag of Australia.svg  Jared Graves  (AUS)2:19.233
7Flag of South Africa.svg  Sifiso Nhlapo  (RSA)DNF
8Flag of France.svg  Damien Godet  (FRA)DNF

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akifumi Sakamoto</span> Japanese BMX cyclist

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Henrik Baltzersen is a Danish amateur BMX cyclist. Having started his sporting career at the age of six and been admitted to the Danish national cycling team since 1999, Baltzersen has mounted top-eight finishes in BMX racing at the European Championships, and later represented his nation Denmark at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Scott Erwood is a Canadian professional BMX cyclist. Having started BMX racing since the age of twelve, Erwood has claimed two Canadian national tournament titles each in both junior and elite categories, and has mounted a top-eight finish at the 2007 UCI World Championships in his home turf Victoria, British Columbia. While riding for numerous seasons on the Crupi World Factory Team, Erwood also represented his nation Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics, following a race-off with his formidable rival Jim Brown from an Olympic selection camp in Chula Vista, California that nearly missed his lifetime opportunity to earn the ticket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cristian Becerine</span> Argentine professional BMX cyclist

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Ramiro Martín Marino Carlomagno is an Argentine professional BMX cyclist. He represented his nation Argentina, as a 19-year-old junior, at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and later claimed the bronze medal in the men's elite category at the 2009 UCI BMX World Championships in Adelaide, Australia, finishing behind the American duo and Olympic medalists Mike Day and Donny Robinson.

Jonathan Fernando Suárez Freitez is a Venezuelan professional BMX cyclist. Dubbed by his sporting fans as El Mosquito, Suarez has been highly considered a solid, all-around BMX rider in Latin America, and more importantly, one of the world's top cruisers in the sport. He won two men's cruiser medals, including his gold, at the UCI BMX World Championships, and later represented his nation Venezuela at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Godet</span> French BMX rider

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Augusto Castro Herrera is a retired Colombian professional BMX cyclist. He represented his nation Colombia at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has claimed multiple Colombian national titles in the men's elite category and a prestigious gold medal in junior cruiser at the 2004 UCI BMX World Championships in Valkenswaard, Netherlands. Before announcing his retirement in August 2013, Castro also raced and trained professionally for Psykopath Industries BMX Team.

Sergio Ignacio Salazar López is a Colombian professional BMX cyclist. He represented his nation Colombia at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has claimed multiple Colombian national titles to his career resume in the men's elite category. Salazar currently races and trains professionally for GW Shimano BMX Cycling Team, under his personal coach Jorge Wilson Jaramillo.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriela Díaz</span> Argentine BMX cyclist

María Gabriela Díaz is an Argentine professional BMX cyclist. Emerging as the world's most decorated female BMX rider in history, Diaz has claimed multiple Argentine national titles, six Pan American championship titles, and five medals in women's elite category at the UCI World Championships. She also won two medals, including a prestigious gold, in the same category at the Pan American Games, and later represented her nation Argentina at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

María Belén Dutto is an Argentine amateur BMX cyclist. Being profoundly deaf since birth with a 98% hearing loss, Dutto represented her nation Argentina at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and also managed to surmount her physical handicap by taking home the gold medal at the 2009 BMX Latin American Championships in São Paulo, Brazil.

Jana Horáková is a Czech professional BMX cyclist. Having started BMX racing at age fifteen, Horakova has claimed numerous Czech national titles, eight European championship titles, and more importantly, two bronze medals in the women's elite category at the UCI World Championships. She also represented her nation Czech Republic at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has been racing professionally for most of her sporting career on the Suzuki-RB Team, before signing an exclusive, three-year sponsorship contract with Duratec in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Bailey</span> Australian BMX rider

Tanya Bailey is an Australian amateur BMX cyclist. Bailey has been a part of the national BMX cycling team for more than 10 years, but granted her first and only opportunity to represent her nation Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she became a semifinalist in the women's elite category. In that same year, Bailey has also reached her ample success in the sport, finishing second at the Australian national championships and Supercross World Cup, both were held in Adelaide, South Australia. Throughout her sporting career, Bailey has been training with her personal and assistant national coach Wade Bootes for the Wanneroo BMX Club in Gold Coast, Queensland.

References

  1. Thompson, Katherine (22 August 2008). "US Grabs BMX Silver, Bronze". Newser . Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  2. "Strombergs of Latvia wins first-ever Olympic men's BMX gold". Xinhua . China Daily. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  3. http://uci.ch/includes/asp/getTarget.asp?type=FILE&id=MzU5MTI%5B%5D
  4. "BMX Competition Format". Beijing 2008 . NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  5. "BMX: Results and Schedules". Beijing 2008 . NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.