Tampa resident Felicia Stancil is setting her sights on her first Olympic medal in Paris as a proud representative of Team USA.
A 15-time world champion, Stancil has dominated the BMX scene since she was 18 years old. Among the five BMX riders who have qualified for the Olympics, she is now chasing the coveted gold medal. Her path to success has been fraught with challenges.
Tragically, Stancil lost her mother when she was just three years old. A year later, her father introduced her to BMX, the sport he loved.
“We had a bit of an argument, and I refused to go inside until he took off my training wheels,” Stancil shared with NBC affiliate WBBH. “Since then, it’s been an incredible journey.”
The bond between Stancil and her father deepened through BMX racing, turning tragedy into triumph with countless memories of him pushing her to excel. “Having my dad by my side will make it even more special,” she told WBBH.
In 2020, Stancil competed in Tokyo, finishing fourth and missing an Olympic medal by just under four seconds. Determined to succeed, she relocated to Tampa to train in BMX year-round, hoping that this Olympic endeavor will culminate in a medal around her neck.
“I dream of hearing the United States national anthem while standing on the podium. That would be incredible.” WFLA initially published the story.
Stancil is set to compete on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, with her events airing on NBC.
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