GERMANY: Germany's Olympic hopes for BMX say they are aiming for a medal in London, but also want to have fun and make the most of their first Games
Record ID:
330918
GERMANY: Germany's Olympic hopes for BMX say they are aiming for a medal in London, but also want to have fun and make the most of their first Games
- Title: GERMANY: Germany's Olympic hopes for BMX say they are aiming for a medal in London, but also want to have fun and make the most of their first Games
- Date: 18th July 2012
- Summary: REUTLINGEN, GERMANY (JULY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OLYMPIC BMX RACER LUIS BRETHAUER PREPARING HIS BIKE FOR TRAINING SIGN ON SIDE OF CAR ADVERTISING THE OLYMPIC BASE IN STUTTGART VARIOUS OF BRETHAUER PUTTING ON HIS RACING GEAR GERMANY FLAG ON UNIFORM BRETHAUER PUTTING HIS HELMET ON AND CYCLING AWAY VARIOUS OF BRETHAUER AND OLYMPIC BMX RACER, MAIK BAIER TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (German) OLYMPIC BMX RACER, LUIS BRETHAUER, SAYING: "It is pure action. It is very fast, we are permanently on an adrenaline kick during the race. This feeling, when you are in a competition, so when you have the will to perform well, you want to be successful. You have your competitors, who surround you, and there is just such a great atmosphere. So this together with the actual BMX cycling is what makes it fun: the flying through the air, the thrill of the speed, this is the coolest all-round packet that I know." VARIOUS OF BRETHAUER AND BAIER TALKING TO TRAINER SIMON SCHIRLE BMX WHEEL (SOUNDBITE) (German) OLYMPIC BMX RACER, LUIS BRETHAUER, SAYING: "Assuming that BMX becomes really really famous and at some point there are history books about the start of German BMX, well we are the first olympians. And then you are put into the history books forever, even if you aren't all that successful. It is definitely a really cool feeling but of course I want to go to London to achieve something and not just to take part." VIEW OF BMX TRAINING FROM FRONT OF BIKE (SOUNDBITE) (German) OLYMPIC BMX RACER, MAIK BAIER, SAYING: "I think that everyone dreams of winning a medal at some point in their life but the the performance level in BMX is really high. And even if you are a favourite to win a title then you still cannot say that you will win a medal in London or in 2016. There are always lots of new riders coming and going in this sport." VARIOUS OF BRETHAUER TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (German) OLYMPIC BMX RACER, LUIS BRETHAUER, SAYING: "Of course it is a wish that you have at the back of your mind and of course once you are there and taking part in the race it is the ultimate goal. But I think one should look at it like any normal event, concentrated on not too high goals and not too much pressure but rather just to do well and have fun and experience lots of things." VARIOUS OF BRETHAUER AND BAIER TRAINING BACK OF SHIRT READING (IN GERMAN) "GERMANY" BRETHAUER AND BAIER CYCLING PAST
- Embargoed: 2nd August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA8A1QD3P9T3CPQFGW1D7L5MI3Q
- Story Text: Cool racing bikes and adventurous youngsters are not the first thing that one relates to the traditional Olympic Summer Games.
Derided as a "punk kid" sport by its detractors, BMX's inclusion into the exclusive Olympic club in Beijing in 2008 was aimed at reigniting the interest of young people, who are likely to be more interested in modern sports than traditional Olympic disciplines such as fencing and archery.
And now two young Germans hope that they can be the newest stars in the fast and furious world of BMX racing.
Luis Brethauer is just 19 years old, but is already very experienced on two wheels.
At just eight years old he took to the BMX track for the first time during a family holiday. Since then, he and his bike, have rarely been separated.
"It is pure action. It is very fast, we are permanently on an adrenaline kick during the race. This feeling, when you are in a competition, so when you have the will to perform well, you want to be successful. You have your competitors, who surround you, and there is just such a great atmosphere. So this together with the actual BMX cycling is what makes it fun: the flying through the air, the thrill of the speed, this is the coolest all-round packet that I know," Brethauer told Reuters TV during a training session in the southern German town of Reutlingen on Wednesday (July 18).
On the track he trains with his team mate Maik Baier, the second German participant in this year's BMX competition.
Baier also began his career in the adrenaline sport as a child and since 1996 has been racing around the BMX world.
He says the favourites to win the Olympic medals in BMX are closer than in any other discipline.
"I think that everyone dreams of winning a medal at some point in their life but the the performance level in BMX is really high. And even if you are a favourite to win a title then you still cannot say that you will win a medal in London or in 2016. There are always lots of new riders coming and going in this sport," Maier said.
Eight riders take part at any one time on the narrow dirt tracks in the BMX events, and are faced with various ramps, bumps, corners and jumps, meaning that injury rate is often high.
The two young Germans hope that this spectacular sport, which is often sidelined by more popular disciplines, could step into the limelight finally in London.
"Assuming that BMX becomes really really famous and at some point there are history books about the start of the German BMX, well we are the first olympians. And then you are put into the history books forever, even if you aren't all that successful. It is definitely a really cool feeling but of course I want to go to London to achieve something and not just to take part," said Brethauer.
The pair say they are of course aiming to take home gold, but are also aware how hard they will have to fight - because in BMX, every millisecond counts. So, Brethauer says, they will have to keep a cool head.
"Of course it is a wish that you have at the back of your mind and of course once you are there and taking part in the race it is the ultimate goal. But I think one should look at it like any normal event, concentrated with not too high goals and not with too much pressure but rather just to do well and have fun and experience lots of things," he said.
A total of 48 competitors will take part in the BMX track events (32 men and 16 women) and will battle it out over three days at the Olympic Park from August 8 - 10. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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