TULSA, Okla. — Five BMX athletes will represent the United States at the Olympics in Paris and on Tuesday they were in Tulsa for a big Olympic sendoff.
FOX23 was at the Hardesty National BMX Stadium and spoke with the Olympians ahead of the games.
Three of the five athletes were there on Tuesday and are all representing the United States for the first time at the Olympic games.
“Representing the United States is just the biggest privilege and honor,” said Cameron Wood, BMX Olympian.
On Tuesday night, words of encouragement and excitement filled the air as the Tulsa community showed up to support members of the BMX Olympic team.
Wood said this has been a surreal experience.
“I vividly remember watching the BMX races debut in the Olympics when I was 7 years old and watching two Americans medal and you know it has always been my dream,” Wood said.
All three athletes said they have been racing since they were toddlers and Daleny Vaughn said it has been a journey to get here.
“Took a lot of hard work dedication and sacrifice. The last few months it has just been challenging myself and how I can be better every day,” Vaughn said.
BMX fans had the chance to ask the Olympians questions, have photos taken and have gear signed.
Since this facility opened, it has served as a space for the community to come together and that community showed up to wish these Olympians luck.
“We use this term ‘setting the stage’ right. I think about the ribbon cutting when we opened two and half years ago and we were talking about what could this be, what is this going to be. The things we knew it would be and all of the pleasant surprises that have happened along the way,” said Shane Fernandez, president of USA BMX.
Fernandez said he is appreciative of the support from so many organizations across Tulsa.
“When I say the momentum keeps on going, it keeps going. So go USA right,” Fernandez said.
That momentum will make its way to Paris as the community cheers on the USA BMX team.
The athletes will head to Paris on Thursday and start competing on August 1.
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