BMX cycling

[pedaling squares]

It's not luck if to be always in front and safe from the crashes. Call me crazy but I'd say that qualifies as skill.

When most of the crashes happen in the first 10 seconds, the only skill is getting a good jump on the competition coming down the ramp. Yes, that takes skill, but if reaching the final depends as much or more on that single skill than on all the other skills involved in the sport, I don't see it as being very competitive. I'm just not impressed by BMX as an Olympic sport.

 

[SergeDeM]

When most of the crashes happen in the first 10 seconds, the only skill is getting a good jump on the competition coming down the ramp. Yes, that takes skill, but if reaching the final depends as much or more on that single skill than on all the other skills involved in the sport, I don't see it as being very competitive. I'm just not impressed by BMX as an Olympic sport.

That was because of the track design, not the sport itself. Still, I don't understand why one skill is not good enough for BMX but it is for so many other sports on the Olympic programme such as the javelin and hammer throws or the long and high jumps. In fact, in BMX you need more skills than just being able to get out of the gates fast while in those other sports there is nothing but one skill being measured.

 

[pedaling squares]

That was because of the track design, not the sport itself. Still, I don't understand why one skill is not good enough for BMX but it is for so many other sports on the Olympic programme such as the javelin and hammer throws or the long and high jumps. In fact, in BMX you need more skills than just being able to get out of the gates fast while in those other sports there is nothing but one skill being measured.

Well, that's just it. Those sports are one specific skill. BMX is supposed to be a collection of skills and abilities. And half the time, half the field doesn't get to display any of them. If all ten events of the decathlon were run consecutively, and half the field got dumped in the first event by some loon who tripped over a hurdle, I would see that as a fair comparison. Ok, I'm stretching a bit... but you get my point.

 

[SergeDeM]

4 times as many nations took part in sailing as there were total competitors in women's BMX.

In track cycling both the men's and women's omnium and keirin had 18 participants, men's sprint had 17. A few other events also had 17 or 18 participants as well.

Women's BMX had the same number of participants as:
Taekwondo - all 4 mens' and all 4 womens' categories.
Trampoline - both mens' and womens'.

And more participants than:
Boxing - Mens' heavy (15), Womens' fly (12), Womens' light (12), Womens' middle (12).
Weightlifting - Mens' 62kg (15), Mens' 77kg (12), Womens' 48kg (14), Womens' 63kg (10), Womens' 69kg (15), Womens' 75kg (13), Womens' 75kg+ (14).

Throw in some wrestling categories as well, I got bored of counting.

All this to say that BMX isn't the event with the least participants, and the only reason it had only 16 is because the IOC-UCI decided to cut it at that, not because there wasn't enough talent available, unlike in some of the aforementioned medal events.

 

[SergeDeM]

Well, that's just it. Those sports are one specific skill. BMX is supposed to be a collection of skills and abilities. And half the time, half the field doesn't get to display any of them. If all ten events of the decathlon were run consecutively, and half the field got dumped in the first event by some loon who tripped over a hurdle, I would see that as a fair comparison. Ok, I'm stretching a bit... but you get my point.

I get your point but I can also say that this is what happens in any type of high speed racing, and it happened in the womens' RR as well. It's also more or less what happens in car racing. Scale down the track width, length and speed of the vehicles and BMX is what you get. You're subject not only to your skills but also to the skills of those beside you so in a sense this makes BMX more difficult than some other medal events out there.

 

[stainlessguy1]

I see. You're right. I chose a bad example but I'm glad we all agree that the BMX track is not expensive. BTW I saw on TV that Beckham was in attendance. I'd like to say that vouches for the sport's popularity.

He was probably paid to sit there .

 

[Izzy eviel]

I don't know much about BMX racing but I think they could do better. I would like to see laps on a much harder course. BMX has potential but the races I've seen at the Olympics are a bit dull.

 

[3wheeler]

A Risky Sport to Spend 4 Years Preparing for if the Olympic Medal is the Goal.
Pretty much a roll of the Dice in the Final .. Form goes out the Window.
Don't mind it being included as a Sideshow but not at the expense of a Couple of Track Events..