Kieran Reilly, a 23-year-old Olympic silver medalist in BMX freestyle, shares his journey after achieving an unprecedented triple flair. He discusses the rigorous mental and physical training needed to excel, revealing insights on overcoming fear and the thrill of competing at the Olympics. Kieran also dives into navigating injuries as growth opportunities, his newfound love for HiRocks racing, and the importance of resilience in high-pressure situations. His passion for BMX and inspiring mindset make this conversation a must-listen for all.
Kieran Reilly's unexpected journey to Olympic silver medalist illustrates the power of motivation and commitment sparked by witnessing fellow athletes compete.
His experiences with BMX highlight the importance of confronting fear in extreme sports, which fosters resilience and personal growth beyond athletic performance.
Deep dives
Kieran Riley's Road to the Olympics
Kieran Riley's journey to becoming an Olympic silver medalist was not a childhood ambition but rather evolved after BMX was introduced as an Olympic sport. Initially, he was not competing professionally and was more focused on producing social media content. His motivation surged after witnessing his fellow athletes perform at the Tokyo Games, prompting him to commit himself to competition preparation. He immersed himself in the qualification process, balancing intense training and learning the complexity of BMX competitions.
Experiencing the Olympic Atmosphere
Riley described the Olympic experience as spectacular, noting it genuinely lived up to the high expectations set by the global sporting community. He embraced the media attention following his success, using it to stay connected to his accomplishment and the journey leading up to it. Contrary to some negative reports, he found the Olympic Village to be enjoyable with a diverse range of food options that he appreciated. Riley thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by elite athletes, which added to the ultimate thrill of competing on such a prestigious stage.
The Importance of Overcoming Fear
Riley emphasized the significance of addressing fear in extreme sports, such as BMX, where the stakes are high regarding performance and safety. Learning to manage and utilize fear played a pivotal role in his development as an athlete, helping him push beyond mental barriers. Having experienced maximum fear while attempting difficult tricks made him more resilient to lesser fears encountered in daily life. This ability to confront fear head-on has become an integral aspect of his training, as it allows him to recognize when he must conquer challenges for growth.
Preparing for High Rocks Competitions
Riley discovered High Rocks through friends from a CrossFit gym and found joy in the competitions, which provided a new outlet for fitness and camaraderie. Despite his focus on BMX, he views participation in High Rocks as a beneficial way to enhance his overall athleticism while also serving as a mental break. He appreciates High Rocks for being a challenge that allows for both fun and competitive spirit, pushing himself while supporting his peers. Riley is committed to further improving his performance in future High Rocks events, reflecting his competitive nature and focus on personal growth.
In this episode of the Rox Lyfe podcast we get to speak with Kieran Reilly (@kieranbmxreilly). Kieran has just won a silver medal in BMX at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At just 23, Kieran is a truly incredible athlete, who can pull off tricks on his bike that only he has ever landed!
In this chat we talk about his experience at the Olympics, what is takes to be an Olympian, his experience of completing the first ever “triple flair”, his HYROX racing, his mindset, and lots more.
I absolutely loved chatting with Kieran – he’s such a good guy, a great speaker, incredible athlete and I promise, if you know nothing about BMX at all you will still find a tonne of great stuff in this episode.
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