French BMX Olympic Athlete, Damien Godet was interviewed by BeijingBMX.com before the Big Race, but in all of the craziness with attending the event and all, we never got it posted. It's a pretty cool insight in to what was going thru his mind before the Olympics, so read on, it's GOOD stuff. - BeijingBMX.com



BeijingBMX.com - Damien. You've been on the podium of some of the UCI BMX Supercross races, were you surprised to be named to the French Olympic Team?

Damien - That was not exactly a surprise but more of a relief; we were 3 riders in the running for only 2 spots. My spot was never a sure thing and the suspense was complete. It was a very emotional moment when I learned I was going.



BeijingBMX.com - What has been the training routine for the French Team, since the team was chosen?

Damien - First, we rested for a few days after the UCI Worlds then we alternated training weeks between Aix - the French Elite Training Center- and Aigle CMC - The UCI training Center in Switzerland. We trained all together with the alternates, a total of 4 guys and 4 girls. The entire Training Team was, Me, Thomas Allier, Thomas Hamon, Quentin Caleyron, Anne Caroline Chausson, Laëtitia Le Corguille, Magalie Pottier and Amelie Despeaux.



BeijingBMX.com - Have you done any races or just training with your team members?

Damien - Some of us raced the French National Finals, mid July but mainly we just trained a lot!



BeijingBMX.com - What is the coolest thing that has happened to you since being named to the French Olympic Team for BMX?

Damien - The coolest thing is to be supported and cheered by so many people! First of all by my friends and family with whom I had the chance to spend some time since the announcement. But also a lot of Emails and messages on my new website (damsgodet.com)... It's heartwarming.



BeijingBMX.com - What do you think of when you think of the podium at the Olympics?

Damien - That simply makes me dream! I really want to make it to the Podium, that's why I train right now. I’m going to battle to go get that medal. We all have a chance. It’s up to us to grab it.



BeijingBMX.com – Is there anything cool happening with sponsors?

Damien - I obviously received the support from all my sponsors and among them Redline has sent me a specific frame with the French colors. I'm very pleased and that bike is so special since it will be racing in the first ever BMX race!



BeijingBMX.com - What does your coach say to you when you talk about the race?

Damien - He tells us to believe in ourselves and in everything we put in and fine tuned the past seasons. He's somebody who pushes us always further, to reach new limits, to never let go in the battle...



BeijingBMX.com - What do you say to yourself when you think about the race?

Damien - I tell myself that it's up to me now! I have the privilege to be part of that race so I have to give it all. For now, I'm not putting myself under pressure and I keep my head cool: The pressure will come fast enough!



BeijingBMX.com - Dams, thanx for the cool interview, and best wishes to you from all of your BMX Race Fans!

Damien - Thank you for this interview! And a big thank you to the French Training Staff, to my sponsors, friends and family for their support. Thanks also to all the people that are cheering for me in that historical race.

 

 

Donny Robinson (Left) and Kyle Bennett, workin' their magic on the Olympic BMX Berm Jump. Donny went on to win the Bronze Medal and Kyle "Just Barely" missed out on the BMX Olympic Final, by ONE point, after seperating his shoulder two days earlier!

Wanna check out the guys who made the Olympics tick? In the white shirt at left, it's Johan Lindstrom, head of the UCI BMX department in Aigle, Switzerland, he's got the Master Plan. To his left is Mats Notland. Matti is responsible for the nitty gritty details at the UCI World Wide events. In the red shirt at left is Tom Ritz, the man behind the tracks. Tom builds all of the UCI Supercross race tracks and also ones that countries ask the UCI to build for them as they ramp up their BMX programs. Pretty cool bunch, these guys put on some AWESOME races!

Italian Stallion, Manuel De Vecchi, made the team at the Olympics. He's a GREAT racer and regularly participates in that Super Tough Euro BMX Circuit, where almost everyone is fast and the comp it tough tough tough!

He's the only rider in the Olympics with only ONE name. Kamakazi was lookin' pretty good at the Games, but he didn't make it out of his Semi's. According to Kama, "There'll be at least one more effort in his bag of tricks. 2012!

 

After having a full day rain delay, Friday we awoke to great weather and we are set to crown our first Olympians. The heat was bearable, but warmed up a bit as the morning progressed. The humidity was a touch better and the smog was up once again. After as shortened warm-up for both groups it was down to business of getting two sets of eight riders for the mains. All eyes were on Shanaze Reade. She crashed in one of her two time trials. In her first semi round she crashed in turn one.



The pressure is on. Reade came back with a good 2^nd place in round two and won the last semi. Things appeared to be back on track? Reade qualified 3^rd behind le Corguille and Kintner. In the first heat of the women’s semis world #2 A.C Chausson controlled things from the first round. A.C headed into the last semi knowing she has qualified for the main no matter what the result. Sarah Walker was the only person to take a win off A.C in the last semi. Sarah qualified 2^nd. Ex-World Champ Gabriella Diaz and Sammy Cools also made the cut for the final.



The gate dropped and Reade gets the holeshot. Through turn one A.C Chausson made her move. Reade went too wide and A.C makes the pass. From here Reade was trying her best to regain the lead. Down to the last turn it is Reade and A.C. Reade goes for a crazy move and crashes. A.C wins easily from here. Reade was left high and dry on the last turn wondering what could have been. She had the silver medal and a shot at the gold down the last straight but choked! Le Corguille looked strong all day and cruised through her semi and finished with the silver medal. Jill Kintner was not in contention and back in fourth when Reade crashed in the last turn. This moved Kintner up to a bronze podium spot.

 

The elite men class was crazy! There were so many crashes it was hard to keep track of everyone. The two standouts are Mike Day and Maris Strombergs. They are on course for showdown in the main. They have conquered everyone they have come up against thus far. They both breeze through their semis. Mike Day took care of things in semi one. Sifiso Nhlapo, Donny Robinson and Andres Jimenez join Mike in the main. The first semi was tough with all three Team USA riders all drawing the same semi. In the second semi Strombergs cleaned sheeted with three wins. Van den Wildenberg, Jared Graves and Damien Godet also advance.



If you thought the semis were good, the main was off the hook. Donny from gate 8 looked solid but is stranded wide. All the action was going down on the inside. Strombergs leads into turn one and Graves leads out of the same turn. Day is in there in about third. Up the second straight Donny Robinson is following Mikey Day. Into turn two Nhlapo and Graves, both on the outside bonk wheels and they both go down. Robinson on the inside gets by and pulls up in third behind Day in second. Strombergs has a big lead. Donny did his best to chase down Day, but this is the way they finished. Strombergs wins the gold, Mike Day the silver and Donny Robinson the bronze.



It was great to see BMX in all its glory and the public received it well. We all look forward to London.