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Olympic BMX team trains in US for 2024 Paris Games

Watch the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on WBAL-TV 11 starting on July 26

Olympic BMX team trains in US for 2024 Paris Games

Watch the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on WBAL-TV 11 starting on July 26

THIS YEAR. JAMES BESTWICK KNOWS BMX. HIS PASSION FOR IT STARTED WHEN HE WAS TEN YEARS OLD. MY FATHER BOUGHT ME, UH, MY MY FIRST BMX BIKE WHILE IT INITIALLY HELPED HIM GET AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HE QUICKLY REALIZED THERE WAS A LOT MORE TO IT. IT DEVELOPED A SIDE CALLED FREESTYLE BMX. AT THE TIME, WHERE IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE AERIAL TRICKS, THE JUMPS, UH, THE TAKING OFF OF THE THE LIMBS. DECADES LATER, AND WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN X GAMES GOLD MEDALS TO HIS NAME, NOW I’M THE COACH OF THE, UH, THE GREAT BRITAIN’S OLYMPIC TEAM. BESTWICK BROUGHT HIS TEAM TO WOODWARD, PENNSYLVANIA, FOR. IT’S AN ACTION SPORTS CAMP NEAR STATE COLLEGE. WHILE HE SAYS THERE’S NO PERFECT ATHLETE TO BE GOOD AT BMX, YOU NEED PATIENCE. UH, YOU NEED DISCIPLINE. UH, YOU NEED FOCUS. YOU NEED TO BE OKAY DEALING WITH THE FEARS THAT COME IN TO, UH, THE CHALLENGES OF OF ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL. YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE A BIT OF DAREDEVIL IN YOU TO PULL IT OFF. AND IT WAS MORE OF A EVEL KNIE
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Olympic BMX team trains in US for 2024 Paris Games

Watch the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on WBAL-TV 11 starting on July 26

Elite athletes from Great Britain's Olympic BMX team are in the U.S. for training ahead of the 2024 Paris Games. Jamie Bestwick's passion for BMX started when he was just 10 years old."My father bought me my first BMX bike," said Bestwick, Team GB Coach of Freestyle BMX.Initially, it was a means of getting around his neighborhood, but he quickly realized the sport's potential."It was more about the aerial tricks, the jumps, the taking off of the limbs," Bestwick said.Now, decades later, with more than a dozen X-Tams gold medals to his name, he is coaching the British Olympic team. He brought his team to an action sports camp in Woodward, Pennsylvania. Bestwick said he believes that while there's no perfect athlete, certain qualities are essential to excel in BMX."You need patience, you need discipline, you need focus, you need to be OK dealing with the fears that come into the challenges," Bestwick said.He also emphasized the need for a bit of a daredevil spirit to truly succeed in the sport."It was really a more Evel Knievel daredevil side to the sport," Bestwick said.As the Olympics draw near, the team continues to train, embodying the discipline, focus and daredevil spirit that Bestwick believes is key to success.The 2024 Paris Olympics starts on July 26, and our very own Jason Newton will be there to share the unforgettable experience with you! The Games will officially open on July 26 with a first-of-its-kind live broadcast on WBAL-TV of the Opening Ceremony, which will include a 4-mile-long floating procession on the River Seine. NBC's coverage on WBAL-TV and Peacock will broadcast live Olympic events each morning and afternoon. USA Network, GOLF Channel, CNBC, E! and Universo will also air Olympic coverage.

Elite athletes from Great Britain's Olympic BMX team are in the U.S. for training ahead of the 2024 Paris Games.

Jamie Bestwick's passion for BMX started when he was just 10 years old.

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"My father bought me my first BMX bike," said Bestwick, Team GB Coach of Freestyle BMX.

Initially, it was a means of getting around his neighborhood, but he quickly realized the sport's potential.

"It was more about the aerial tricks, the jumps, the taking off of the limbs," Bestwick said.

Now, decades later, with more than a dozen X-Tams gold medals to his name, he is coaching the British Olympic team. He brought his team to an action sports camp in Woodward, Pennsylvania.

Bestwick said he believes that while there's no perfect athlete, certain qualities are essential to excel in BMX.

"You need patience, you need discipline, you need focus, you need to be OK dealing with the fears that come into the challenges," Bestwick said.

He also emphasized the need for a bit of a daredevil spirit to truly succeed in the sport.

"It was really a more Evel Knievel daredevil side to the sport," Bestwick said.

As the Olympics draw near, the team continues to train, embodying the discipline, focus and daredevil spirit that Bestwick believes is key to success.

The 2024 Paris Olympics starts on July 26, and our very own Jason Newton will be there to share the unforgettable experience with you! The Games will officially open on July 26 with a first-of-its-kind live broadcast on WBAL-TV of the Opening Ceremony, which will include a 4-mile-long floating procession on the River Seine.

NBC's coverage on WBAL-TV and Peacock will broadcast live Olympic events each morning and afternoon. USA Network, GOLF Channel, CNBC, E! and Universo will also air Olympic coverage.