X Games star Nyquist to coach US team at Tokyo Olympics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — X Games star Ryan Nyquist has been hired to coach the U.S. team in BMX Freestyle and will play a crucial role in organizing its program leading up to the discipline’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

USA Cycling announced Nyquist’s addition to its elite athletics program Thursday.

Nyquist was among the pioneers of the sport, turning pro in 1996 and winning 16 medals at the X Games. He is also a three-time world champion, a member of the UCI’s freestyle commission and the men’s BMX freestyle athlete representative for cycling’s world governing body.

BMX Freestyle takes place on a course fill with ramps, obstacles and transitions. In the Olympic format, each rider completes a one-minute run scored by judges with both counting toward a final score.

BMX racing has been part of the Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Games.

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