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Link to original content: http://web.archive.org/web/20180328212315/https://www.olympic.org/cycling-bmx
Cycling BMX - Summer Olympic Sport
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Cycling BMX

Men's events

Women’s events



BMX racing took off in California, inspired by motocross. It fast became popular and made its Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games.

California born

Bicycle motocross (BMX) started in the late 1960s in California, around the time that motocross became a popular sport in the USA. The motorised version of the sport was the inspiration for the human-powered competition.

BMX spreads worldwide

BMX racing offered exciting action at a low cost and the infant sport became an instant hit, especially in California. This led to the foundation of a sanctioning body for BMX in the USA in the early 1970s. Over the following decade, the sport gradually gained in international popularity.

Official international sport

In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded. BMX rapidly developed a unique sporting identity and it became evident that the sport had more in common with cycling than motorcycling. This was officially recognised in 1993 when BMX was fully integrated into the International Cycling Union (UCI). The sport made its Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Olympic history

It was in 2008 in Beijing that BMX made its debut on the Olympic programme. The men’s event was won by Latvia’s Maris Strombergs. In the women’s event, it was France’s Anne-Caroline Chausson who took the first Olympic title in this discipline.

BMX is one of the fastest and youngest cycling disciplines. Its principle is simple: eight riders compete on a track filled with jumps, tight bends and obstacles. In Beijing, the Laoshan velodrome track was 370m long for the men and 350m long for the women.

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Gallery

Cycling BMX - Women
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Cycling BMX - Women

(L-R) Maria Gabriela Diaz of Argentina, Stefany Hernandez of Venezuela, Amanda Carr of Thailand, Simone Christensen of Denmark, Merle Van Benthem of the Netherlands, Manon Valentino of France, Alise Post of the United States and Mariana Pajon of Colombia compete during the Women's BMX Semi Finals 1 on day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic BMX Centre on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images
Cycling BMX - Women
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Cycling BMX - Women

(L-R) Mariana Pajon of Colombia, Stefany Hernandez of Venezuela, Simone Christensen of Denmark and Manon Valentino of France compete during the Women's semi final 1 on day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic BMX Centre on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images
Cycling BMX - Women
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Cycling BMX - Women

Mariana Pajon #100 of Colombia powers to victory during the Women's BMX final on day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic BMX Centre on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images
Cycling BMX - Women
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Cycling BMX - Women

(L-R) Amanda Carr of Thailand, Alise Post of the United States, Stefany Hernandez of Venezuela and Mariana Pajon of Colombia compete during the Women's Semi Finals on day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic BMX Centre on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images
Cycling BMX - Men
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Cycling BMX - Men

Jelle van Gorkom of the Netherlands competes during the Men's BMX Semi Final on day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic BMX Centre on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Getty Images
Cycling BMX - Men
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Cycling BMX - Men

(L-R) Connor Fields and Nicholas Long of the United States compete during the Men's BMX Final on day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic BMX Centre on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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