Mariana Pajón Among 32 Athletes Running for IOC Athletes’ Commission Elections in Paris

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Mariana Pajón is hoping to represent her fellow athletes…

The 32-year-old Colombian cyclist, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and BMX World Champion, is a candidate in elections at the 2024 Paris Games to represent their fellow athletes at the IOC.The International Olympic Committee announced the list of 32 candidates this week for elections to be held during the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris from July 26-August 11, when about 10,500 athletes are eligible to vote.

After being the flag-bearer for Colombia during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Games, Pajón’s first participation in the BMX event resulted in the first gold medal for Colombia during the 2012 games and the second overall in Colombia’s participation in the Olympics.

In the 2016 Rio Games Pajón defended her title and won her second Olympic gold medal and fifth overall for Colombia. With this victory, Pajón became the first Colombian athlete to win two gold medals.

In the 2020 Tokyo Games, Pajón won silver.

But Pajon isn’t the only Latinx athlete in the running…

Kahena Kunze, a 32-year-old Brazilian Olympic sailor, is also a candidate. Together with Martine Grael she won the 49er FX class at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships and a gold medal in the inaugural 49er FX race, during the 2016 Rio Games, a feat both repeated at 2020 Tokyo Games.

Other Latinx candidates include Salvadoran sailor Enrique Arathoon, who competed at the 2016 Rio Games and 2020 Tokyo Games; Mexican pentathlon athlete Emiliano Hernandez Uscanga; Puerto Rican judoka Melissa Mojica Rosario, who competed at the 2012 London Games, 2016 Rio Games and 2020 Tokyo Games; and Argentine judoka Paula Belén Pareto, who won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games.

Four positions are up for election.

Jennifer Lopez Appears in Coach’s “That’s My Ride” Spring 2022 Campaign

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is riding high…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar appears in Coach’s “That’s My Ride” Spring 2022 campaign unveiled on Tuesday.

This season, Coach reworked its signature Horse and Carriage image to include the brand’s first-ever house logo reimagined for a new generation. Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Beck, Wisdom Kaye and Kōki are also featured in the campaign.

The unisex collection includes hoodies, cross body bags, large and mini tote bags, backpacks, fanny packs and more in white, orange, blue and pink color palettes.

Photographed by Tyler Mitchell and captured in cities across the globe, the campaign was created in collaboration with new Coach ambassadors Dean Fujioka and Shawn Dou, TikTok star Parker Kit Hill and comedian Elsa Majimbo.

Evoking nostalgic ride scenes from music and movies, Megan and Lopez and other members of the Coach family are featured using multiple forms of transpiration.

Lopez, for example, strikes a pose riding a BMX bike while Megan battles it out in bumper cars at a boardwalk amusement park. The Houston native shared a video from the campaign on her Instagram account Tuesday with the caption “Thee main attraction.”

Lopez posted a video as well, captioned, “How I’m riding this spring.”

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Venezuela’s Daniel Dhers Claims Silver in BMX Freestyle Competition at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Daniel Dhers is proving age is but a number…

The 36-year-old Venezuelan professional BMX rider claimed the silver medal in the first ever BMX freestyle competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Most of the 18 riders who competed at the Ariake Urban Sports Park are in their early or mid-20s, with eventual gold medalist Australia’s Logan Martin nearly a decade younger at 27.

Dhers, the only rider in the field born before 1990, ended the competitition with a best score of 92.05 to Martin’s 93.30.

Great Britain’s Declan Brooks took home the bronze with a score of 90.80.

Dhers has competed at the highest level for more than a decade but any thoughts of winding down were put aside when, in 2017, BMX freestyle was added to the Olympic program.

“It’s a thing that I didn’t believe I would get to see in my career,” Dhers, who lives in North Carolina, told reporters.

Report”I’m just super happy that I was able to make it through the qualifications, and just can’t believe we are here. So I’m so, so psyched,” Dhers, a four-time X Games champion, said.

Colombia’s Mariana Pajón Claims Silver Medal in Women’s BMX Racing at Tokyo Games

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mariana Pajón has fallen just short of a third consecutive Olympic gold…

The 29-year-old Colombian cyclist, two-time Olympic gold medalist and BMX World Champion, had to settle for the silver in the women’s BMX racing competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Bethany Shriever of Britain ended Pajon’s bid for a third straight Olympic gold medal, pulling away from the Colombian in the women’s final, in what turned out to be a gripping final on an accident-marred day.

Shriever, an underdog in the competition, said she knew Pajon was gaining down the final straight but managed to keep a cool head.

“When I saw her coming next to me I knew I had to stay smooth, so that’s what I did and managed to hold it to the line. Mariana is an absolute inspiration to me and she’s the only rider I’ve ever really looked up to.”

Pajon took defeat gracefully.

“She was really fast, she did an amazing job,” she said.

Despite having to settle for silver, Pajon has earned her place in Colombian sports history, becoming the first Colombian athlete to win three Olympic medals in their lifetime.

Known as the “The Queen of BMX,” Pajón won her first national title at age of 5 and her first world title at 9. She had won BMX golds at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games.

Carlos Ramírez Repeats as a Bronze Medalist in Men’s BMX Racing at the Tokyo Games

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a repeat performance for Carlos Ramírez.

The 27-year-old Colombian BMX rider claimed another bronze medal in the men’s BMX racing final at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

It’s the same medal position Ramirez had at the 2016 Rio Games.

In the final in Tokyo, Ramirez came out and was in last place. At the first corner, he managed to climb to third place, but his great opponent was Joris Daudet. The heads-up game ended on the straight before the last corner when Daudet went to the ground. Ramírez dodged his rival, continued without problems and finished the test in third place.

Niek Kimmann of the Netherlands won the gold, edging Great Britain’s Kye Whyte at the finish line.

MTV Tr3s Picks Up Ricardo Laguna Docuseries

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s been proclaimed the South American “”… And, now you’ll have the chance to get the dirt on Ricardo Laguna.

Tres: MTV, Musica y Mas has picked up The Ricardo Laguna Project, which centers on the life of the 29-year-old Mexican-American professional BMX rider and television personality.

Actor Wilmer Valderrama, who discovered Laguna, will executive produce the 10-episode docuseries.

“When I met Ricardo, I immediately discovered a disarming, charming and inspiring young man with a vision larger than even his whole family expected,” says Valderrama. “I related to him on so many levels. Ricardo and his family remind me and all of us of the reason why we move away from our countries and come to America to embark in the search of the American dream.”

The Ricardo Laguna Project will offer a glimpse inside the life of Laguna as he attempts to break three world records and launch his own family business while balancing his family and Las Vegas social life.

The new series will premiere later this year on Tres.

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Celebrating the Latino Influence

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