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BMX rider Donny Robinson hopes history will repeat itself in Beijing |
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Written by Deborah Charles
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Wednesday, 23 July 2008 |
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A year ago, the American flew down the 8-metre-high starting ramp
and jumped his way to victory on the track that will be used for the
sport's Olympic debut in Beijing.
In the anything-can-happen world of BMX racing, Robinson, who leads
the 2008 BMX World Cup standings, is one of the gold medal favorites in
August.
BMX, an acronym for bicycle motocross, involves eight riders who
start together on the starting ramp and fight to stay ahead over jumps
and tight corners.
In Beijing, riders wearing goggles and protective pads will likely
reach about 40 mph (64 kph) on a course including three hairpin turns
and four jump-filled straightaways.
Pat McDonough, USA Cycling's director of athletics, tells the story
of a top-10 rider who went to the Beijing Olympic track. Once on the
ramp she froze for about 45 minutes before retiring from the sport.
Robinson admits his first reaction to the Beijing course was that it
was "jaw-dropping" and it took him a while to get ready to attack it.
But once he did, he proved he could beat it by winning the 2007 BMX Supercross World Cup on the track last August.
(reuters)
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