US Grabs BMX Silver, Bronze

Latvia's Strombergs wins men's gold; French women top their race
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 22, 2008 6:34 AM CDT
US Grabs BMX Silver, Bronze
Latvia's Maris Strombergs, center, shows the gold medal of the cycling BMX Men's race, flanked by Mike Day, of the United States, left, and Donny Robinson, right.   (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Mike Day and Donny Robinson secured America's first medals in the men's BMX competition, placing second and third behind Latvia's Maris Strombergs. Injured teammate Kyle Bennett failed to make the finals, AP reports. In the women's race, Jill Kintner took advantage of crashes to move up into bronze position behind France's Anne-Caroline Chausson and Laetitia Le Corguille.

"I'm super pumped," Day said. "I felt good all day. Everything kind of was clicking. I had a great start, I was just a little outside of Maris. But silver—I'm psyched." Kintner was as enthusiastic about the medals—the first ever awarded in the Olympics for the American-born sport.  "I'm so glad I can represent and be a part of it," she said. "Mikey and Donny and me—it's huge for American BMX. Think about it." (More 2008 Beijing Olympics stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X