Meet the five US riders set to peddle, jump and pump at Paris 2024
At 33 years old, Alise Willoughby is the most experienced veteran of the US BMX racing team. With three world titles and an Olympic silver medal to her name, she’s arguably the most decorated female American BMX athlete in history. Nonetheless, she remains at the top of her game despite all the bumps, knocks and crashes. A gold medal at Paris 2024 would be the cherry-on-top of an illustrious career for Willoughby.
She told USA Cycling, “Little 6-year-old me that started racing BMX back in Minnesota over 27 years ago could’ve never imagined where this two-wheeled journey would take me. Women’s BMX wasn’t an Olympic discipline or even a professional career option back then, so to have been a part of the sport’s growth while finding the success I have over the years, and now be named to my fourth Olympic team representing Team USA, is truly humbling and such an honor.”
Willoughby will be joined in the start gate for a second time by teammate Felicia Stancil, who finished an agonizing fourth place in Tokyo. The 29-year-old from Lake Villa, Illinois rebounded well from a bittersweet Olympic performance, however, winning the 2022 UCI BMX Racing World Championships. Stancil will be further bolstered by the support of her family, as she chases the medal that eluded her three years ago.
“It’s been a dream since BMX Racing debuted in the 2008 Olympics and I’m excited to be returning for my second Olympic Games.” Stancil told USA Cycling. “France is a beautiful country, and this Olympic Games means even more having my family in the stands.”
Daleny Vaughn will lean on the experience of her teammates as she prepares to make her Olympic debut in Paris. The 23-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, earned an automatic nomination to the team after her third-place finish at the 2024 UCI BMX Racing World Championships. A promising young rider, she will look to make a memorable debut at the Olympic Games.
“Being selected to the Olympic Games is an unexplainable feeling, it’s something I have wanted since I was a kid, and the 2024 Games was always the goal,” noted Stancil to USA Cycling. “The day I made the team will be a feeling I will never forget and something I will cherish forever.”
She added, “The preparation for this started so long ago and it feels so good for the hard work to pay off. It’s always an honor to represent the USA and not something I take lightly, I’m excited to represent them on the world’s biggest stage for sport.”