Which cyclist won the first Olympic gold medal in BMX racing at the 2008 Beijing Games?

Māris Štrombergs won the first Olympic gold medal in BMX racing at the 2008 Beijing Games.

BMX racing made its Olympic debut in Beijing, where riders competed on a purpose-built dirt track featuring jumps, banked turns and a starting ramp. Štrombergs represented Latvia and won the men’s final ahead of American competitors.

His victory gave Latvia its first Olympic gold medal in cycling. The race format was much shorter and more explosive than road racing: riders sprinted through a compact course, with gate position, acceleration and cornering all crucial.

Štrombergs defended his Olympic title at London 2012, becoming the first rider to win two Olympic BMX racing gold medals. BMX freestyle was added to the Olympic programme later, at Tokyo 2020, so it should not be confused with the original Olympic BMX racing event.