Category:
Olympic athletes from the United States and Brazil train on the BMX track at Deodoro Radical Park
Published on 24/02/2025 - 12:32 | Updated
The track built for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was completely renovated and opened earlier this year - Marcelo Piu/City of Rio The BMX track at Deodoro Radical Park, which reopened earlier this year, is receiving illustrious visitors this week. Olympic athletes Payton Ridenour of the United States and Priscilla Stevaux of Brazil are training there. Payton competed in the Tokyo Olympics with the American team and Priscilla represented Brazil in two Olympic Games, in Rio and Tokyo.
– It is very gratifying to see the BMX track becoming a reference once again and attracting even international athletes, such as Payton Ridenour. Now we also want to help in the formation of new generations and we hope to have a school for the sport on site – said the municipal secretary of sports, Guilherme Schleder.
The track built for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was completely renovated and opened earlier this year. It has a 350-meter (women's) and 400-meter (men's) course and occupies an area of approximately four thousand square meters. With an investment of R$4,5 million, the works were carried out by the Municipal Urbanization Company (Rio-Urbe), an agency linked to the Municipal Infrastructure Department, in partnership with the Sports Department.
American Payton Ridenour was enchanted by the place, which she discovered through her friend Priscilla Stevaux's social media. Not even the heat of Rio de Janeiro could dampen the athlete's excitement, as she visited the track for the first time.
– It’s very hot, but I’m very grateful to be here and riding on this wonderful track. I saw a video of my friend Priscilla training here and I was amazed. I had to go there. I’ve been on the track several times and it’s wonderful. I simply loved it. If you have the opportunity to ride here, I definitely recommend it. It’s on another level. It’s in my top 10.
Owner of five national BMX titles, Brazilian Priscilla Stevaux was happy to return to the track where she competed in the Olympic Games.
– I represented Brazil at the Rio Games and I am very happy to be back on this track to train. The renovations are great and the jumps have remained the same technical style. This is one of the only tracks that has remained the same since the Olympic Games, with the same quality and technique. I am impressed with the structure. It is our heritage and I am very happy to enjoy this space. I hope there will be many championships here.
Athletes Sillas Andrade, from Macaé, and Francesco Guani, from Maricá, had the opportunity to train at the venue alongside Olympic athletes. Sillas started playing the sport as a child, in 2015, and fell in love with it. The young athlete from Macaé has already won championships in his city and dreams of winning even more.
– I saw the Parque Radical track at the Olympics and being able to train here is inspiring. Being alongside Olympic athletes, like Priscilla, is also a great incentive. I dream of one day representing the country at the Olympic Games.
Maricá athlete Francesco Guani reinforced the importance of the track for the evolution of the sport.
– Training here has been an incredible experience. We needed a track like this in Rio. It will help me a lot.
News
