SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Daniel Dhers, one of the few stars at the Pan American Games in Chile, said he would burn his motorcycle after a disappointing performance Sunday in the BMX freestyle final.
The 38-year-old Olympic silver medalist failed to make the podium in Santiago, against little-known competitors. Dhers, who plans to retire next year at the Paris Olympics, also crashed twice.
The Venezuelan rider lost his balance on the first lap of Sunday’s decisive gold medal war. He then had to have a more competitive regime to get more trouble, but he crashed at another point, leaving his troubles at 49. 33.
Argentina’s José Torres, champion of the X-Games, won the gold medal in Santiago with 86. 00 points, followed by Chile’s José Cedano (85. 67) and Brazil’s Gustavo Batista, known as “Bala Loka” (83. 67).
“There is sadness and sorrow,” Dhers, who won the Pan American gold medal four years ago in Lima, told reporters. “Maybe I’ll see myself winning the gold medal. I fell in love with a trick reserved for amateurs and a trick. which I created myself in 2005. “
The Venezuelan fans showed up to Dhers on the BMX track of the National Stadium in Santiago. They scoffed at the score given to their favorite in the tie. The coach of the Chinese national team is the last penultimate of the qualifiers, with 73. 50 points.
“If I qualify (for the Olympics), I will withdraw from the Olympics. It’s clear to me that I’m tired. It’s as fun as ever, a lot of things have been replaced in BMX. I agree with their policies. I’ve seen the wonderful moments and now the lows of this sport,” added the Venezuelan.
“Now it’s a few days of mourning and burning the bike,” Dhers said.
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