Molly Simpson at the Olympics. (Supplied)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

GOING FOR GOLD IN 2028

Molly Simpson reflects on fifth-place BMX finish at Paris Olympics

Aug 16, 2024 | 7:57 PM

The Summer Olympics have wrapped up for another four years, and Red Deerian Molly Simpson is back after a solid fifth-place performance in women’s BMX racing.

In the final race of 24 competitors, Simpson placed fifth with a time of 35.833. The gold medal went to Australian racer Saya Sakakibara with a time of 34.231, just 1.602 seconds faster than Simpson’s time.

“I had some really good laps and races and put out a solid result of fifth place. Obviously the goal is to medal, I think that’s anybody’s goal when they go to the Olympics but that being said, I now know that I really want to go for gold in L.A. in four years time. Going through that experience, now I’m just feeling even more motivated and just wanting more,” she reflected.

Related: UPDATE: Molly Simpson finishes 5th in BMX in Paris

Although the 21-year-old has been on the national team since she was 16, this was Simpson’s first time setting foot on the Olympic field.

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“I wish I could go back and I’m wishing the L.A. 2028 Olympics could be tomorrow, I enjoyed it so much,” she said. “One of my favourite things was the opening ceremony and the fact that every country was on a boat was so cool. It took about three hours but it felt like two minutes, it was incredible.”

Simpson had her close family members in Paris, cheering her on from the stands. When the games wrapped up, she took a well-deserved vacation with her family in Croatia before returning home. She expects to spend August and some of September in Red Deer before returning to Abbotsford, B.C., where the national team trains to get back to her routine.

For the next two years, she plans to continue competing in world cups and championships before focusing in on the 2028 Games as qualifications begin in 2026.

After a solid first performance on the world stage, she says focusing on the technical details should push her to the podium in 2028.

“I think I have a solid program. Of course we’re always tweaking it as we’re growing, but I think just more technical things on the bike and [getting] more specific, doing video review and trying to find those minimal details on what we can improve,” said Simpson.

She typically trains on the bike four days a week and in the gym three days a week, with multiple sessions occasionally falling the same day. Simpson said the training is fairly constant, but she does prioritize a rest day, which is usually Sunday.

Simpson shared that she considered pursuing post-secondary education between Games, but is more focused on her athletic career for now.

“After experiencing the Olympics and not getting the results I wanted, which would be a medal, I think I solely want to focus on the Olympics in four years time. This is my job and I enjoy it,” she said. “I think I balance myself out really well with leisure activity, friends and family, and hobbies. I’m not really sure about the school part yet, but definitely one day I’ll be going to school and doing other things like that.”

More than her finishing result, Simpson said the most memorable moment of the Games came just before the race.

“I think the feeling before the final, me just standing there before we all loaded into the gates before the final started, looking at the crowd, and the atmosphere and feeling the energy was just indescribable; I think I’ll remember that for the rest of my life – also the opening ceremonies.”

Simpson’s Olympic journey is far from over, and the next Summer Games will kick off in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2028.

Read more:

• Red Deer BMXer Molly Simpson ready to roar on Olympic stage
• World champion BMXer from Red Deer, Molly Simpson, accepts Mayor’s Recognition Award

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