Santiago, Chile: Camren Larsen of the United States celebrates on the podium after winning the men's singles gold medal. … [+]
When she was 12 years old and stayed up late watching the London Olympics in the summer of 2012, Camren Larsen knew she wanted to one day perform on the Olympic stage.
“From that day on, I promised myself that I would do whatever I could to get there,” he said while training in France before returning to his home in Palm Harbor, Fla. “I was OK with failing as long as I knew I gave it my all.”
Larsen, 24, has been giving it his all in the 12 years since then: Not only has he achieved his dream, but he's also one of five members of the USA BMX (bicycle motocross) racing team competing in Paris.
“When I first heard the news, the first thing that went through my mind was that it was a dream come true,” said Larsen, who found out she was an Olympian on June 18. “I understand the honor and responsibility of representing the United States at the highest level of sport. It means a lot to me.”
It also means a lot to me that I am the first African-American to compete in an Olympic BMX race.
“I think this is a great opportunity to show people of African-American descent that they can do anything they put their mind to,” said Larsen, who grew up idolizing Derek Jeter. “My hope is to leave a positive mark on the sports world as a whole and leave a trail for kids to believe it's possible.”
Fall in love with racing
Larsen was introduced to racing from an early age, mainly thanks to his mother and uncle, who attended races at a local level and on weekends. At the age of 5, Larsen hopped on a bike and started racing, and as the years went by, race after race followed.
“I grew up like a regular kid, riding my bike around the neighborhood with my friends,” the Bakersfield, Calif., native says. “I was a little competitive, so my parents would take me to the BMX track to let off some steam. I was scared the first few times, but once I got the hang of it, I loved it, and I've been doing it ever since.”
Larsen began traveling to mostly local events by age 10. By age 12, he was branching out and traveling across the country to compete in BMX events in Orlando, about 2,500 miles from home. Within a few years, it was clear he wanted to do something with his passion.
“At 16, high school age, it's the age where you know if you want to give it a try, just like with stick and ball sports,” he said.
Larsen moved to Florida in 2022 because he preferred the state's year-round weather. Near his home in Palm Harbor, there are two tracks, giving him the opportunity to train essentially 365 days a year.
Based in the Tampa Bay area, Larsen continued to stay active in the sports world, and his dream of representing his country in Paris would come to fruition in earnest when he wins a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Chile in 2023. An event like the Olympics would give Larsen a good idea of what Paris is like.
“After winning this tournament, it started to sink in a little bit,” he said. “I thought, 'OK, I'm on the right track. The Olympics can be no different.' I felt like if I kept working hard and being determined, it was possible.”
Larsen, who has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Grand Canyon University, attributes his success in the sport to his only coach, Ariel Martin-Verhaeren, who was a member of the 2012 Olympic team before an injury forced him to miss competition.
“My mom gave me a lot of motivation and a mindset about sports in general,” Larsen said, “I think I've always had a work ethic since I was about 7 or 8 years old. My mom made it all happen for me, that there's anything you can get through hard work, determination and discipline.”
