Molly Simpson Shines in BMX Racing at Paris Olympics

Molly Simpson, a talented BMX racer from Red Deer, made her mark at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games held in Paris. This 21-year-old athlete competed fiercely and reached the finals in the women’s BMX racing event on Friday.

In the final race, she finished with a time of 35.833 seconds, just 1.602 seconds behind the gold medalist, Saya Sakakibara from Australia. Molly finished in fifth place, showcasing her skills among some of the best BMX racers from around the globe.

Earlier in the day, Simpson’s journey to the finals saw her placing seventh overall in the semifinals, which was just enough to qualify. She secured a solid second place in her first semifinal race, clocking in at 35.599 seconds, followed by a fourth and a fifth-place finish in her subsequent races.

The day before, during her first outing at these Games, she had already shown promise by qualifying for the semifinals after finishing fourth in the quarterfinals. Simpson earned a spot in the Olympic team thanks to her impressive performances at events like the Union Cycliste Internationale World Cups and World Championships, both in 2023 and 2024.

Last year, Molly made a name for herself by winning a silver medal at the Pan Am Games. This was her first experience in a major international competition. Competing in all six World Cup events this season, she ended up placing sixth in the overall standings.

Simpson first hopped on a BMX bike at the young age of 10 at the Red Deer BMX Race Club, and by the time she was just 14, she was already a part of the Canadian development team. Her journey from a local bike club to the Olympic stage has been nothing short of inspiring.