Anthony Jeanjean at the Paris 2024 Olympics: five things to know about the Hérault rider, competing this Tuesday

(SP) HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-OLYMPIC QUALIFIER SERIES-CYCLING-BMX FREESTYLE-MEN’S PARK FINAL XinHua – Attila Volgyi

His love for BMX that he discovered at FISE in Montpellier, his heavy fall that could have forced him to end his career or bad Olympic experience… Discover five things to know about Anthony Jeanjean, who is competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this Tuesday, July 30, 2024 from 3 p.m.

At 26, rider Anthony Jeanjean is one of the best of his generation in BMX freestyle park.

1 – He could have ended his career after a heavy fall

Crushed lungs, punctured bladder, fractured left kidney… Anthony Jeanjean's career could have ended in 2018, after a five-metre fall in competition. The Bitterois would return to competition only three months after his accident, against the advice of his doctors and through perseverance.

2 – He fell in love with his sport in Montpellier

At the age of ten, Anthony Jeanjean went to the FISE (International Extreme Sports Festival) in Montpellier. He stumbled upon BMX freestyle by chance, and his parents bought him his first bike. Since then, he has reached every level of his career on the banks of the Lez.

3 – He practices an artistic and spectacular discipline

Unlike BMX racing, which involves racing down a track as fast as possible, BMX flatland is a more artistic discipline. Even though the bikes are similar, the rules are very different. Anthony Jeanjean must be creative, and must do as many figures as possible with as much precision.

Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai 2024 MAXPPP – ALEX PLAVEVSKI

4 – He is a prodigy of BMX freestyle park

A professional for almost ten years, Anthony Jeanjean has very quickly demonstrated great maturity in his field. He is a four-time French champion, three-time European champion and bronze medalist at the world championships, and has already beaten Olympic champion Logan Martin.

5 – He has already participated in the Olympic Games

And it is not a very good memory for him. In Tokyo in 2021, Anthony Jeanjean had fallen, finishing only seventh (out of nine) in the Olympic final.