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How did a BMX rider who once hated bikes come to define his era?
Venezuelan trailblazer Daniel Dhers is a veteran of the BMX scene, winning everything there is to win. The defining moment of his career came in 2020 when he won a silver medal at the Olympics.
Daniel Dhers is one of the most consistently successful riders in BMX history, twice winning consecutive gold medals at the X Games and defending his Action Sports Tour title on multiple occasions. He's a legend of the sport.
We decided to meet up with the 38-year-old to understand how he became such a tour de force in the world of BMX freestyle – and here are 10 things we learned from our in-depth conversation with him.
01
Once upon a time, he hated bikes
Dhers remembers getting his first bike at the age of four, but says he didn’t get off to a promising start.
“It was a 16-inch when I was about four-years-old, I tried to ride it and kept falling over – even with training wheels," he says. "At that point I hated bikes and thought I would never ride a bike again in my life.”
02
But he soon changed his mind, and his parents had a hard time keeping him off the BMX
Dhers says his parents would literally lock his bike up so he wouldn't bunk off school and ride all day on the streets of Caracas.
“I’m the only person in the family who ever did sports,” he says. “My friends were cool because they were riding too but my mum, dad and uncle weren’t so psyched that I would skip school to go riding. They went to great lengths like chaining my bike to a truck so I wouldn’t ride, and focus on school.”
Dhers rides the backs streets of Rovinj, Croatia
© Marjan Radovic / Red Bull Content Pool
03
It was tough riding in Caracas, but his struggle would later define him
At the beginning things were hard for the bike-mad youngster, and there weren’t a lot of places to ride or mates to ride with.
“It was challenging at times. There was only one skatepark in the city and when that was closed we could only ride street, which was cool but Caracas was dangerous with crime and traffic for a little kid to be riding around.
“Parts were expensive and hard to come by. We became very resourceful to fix our bikes. But overall I think those experiences have shaped me into the person I am today.”
Overall I think those experiences have shaped me into the person I am today
04
A reluctant move to Buenos Aires set his trajectory for success
Dhers was just 16 when his family moved to Argentina from Venezuela. Despite initially wanting to put the brakes on the relocation, he soon found his feet.
“At first I didn’t want to move. I liked being in Caracas, but as a child I had no choice but to move with my parents,” he says. “It was the first time experiencing winter and the skatepark was far away and outdoors so it was hell to ride but the sport was a lot more developed in Argentina.
“They had real pros, bike brands and parks. I learned a lot from the riders there because it was the first time I could see some of the tricks I’d seen in magazines for years in person – that was huge.”
Hitting the streets of Brazil at the Red Bull Athlete Summit 2022
© Fabio Piva / Red Bull Content Pool
05
Dhers dreams came true in Tokyo in 2020
Dhers competed in BMX Freestyle Park at the Olympics in 2020, the first time the discipline has ever been included, and got a silver medal.
“I know how happy sports can make a country that’s constantly going through problems, so it meant a lot to be able to contribute a little bit to that happiness," he says.
“It’s certainly one of the biggest achievements of my career but after Tokyo I will find something else to look forward to.”
Dhers reflects during a break at Red Bull BMX Maze
© Tomislav Moze / Red Bull Content Pool
06
Breaking his back in 2003 was the toughest moment in his career
Dhers thought his career was almost over before it even started. A career-halting accident left him unable to ride and questioning his future on two-wheels.
“I think having a big injury in somewhat the beginning of your career is a turning point for a lot of riders," he says. "In my case, I fell one day before the Brazil X Games in 2003. Breaking my lower back was such a bummer because I was ready to compete with riders from the USA. I'd been looking forward to that event for a whole year and then I couldn’t ride it and I was in a lot of pain. I thought to myself that’s it, I’m done riding.
07
Keeping up with the new kids on the block keeps Dhers in shape
Despite being in his late-30s, Dhers it still at the top of his game. So how does he keep up with the competition?
“It’s definitely a lot of work," he says. "I ride every day and have been taking care of my body by strengthening it at the gym and working on my endurance. Riding is always the main priority and my day revolves around it so everything I do is to maintain or get better. And at this point I really enjoy challenging the new kids so it keeps me motivated to keep progressing.”
Daniel Dhers and Marin Ranteš share a moment at Red Bull BMX Maze 2021
© Nejc Ferjan / Red Bull Content Pool
“I remember checking out of the hotel with my mum, and Mark Losey [then Ride BMX editor] and Leigh Ramsdell [pro rider] handed me some stickers and a magazine and told me not to give up. Right there and then I knew I had to get back on my bike.”
08
As a veteran of the sport, age is on Dher’s side
He’s learned a lot over the years, honing his strategy and learning life lessons about risk and reward, but he’s also calmed down a lot… except when he’s competing.
“I think the best thing about my age is the experience and being able to understand how to set up a strategy.
“In my first years, my motivation was to gain recognition. In my first five or six years, I wanted to win. Then, I wanted to prove that I could do it again. I used to be intimidating, but now I'm the oldest in the circuit, competing against 18-year-olds. In Venezuela, we say: 'old dogs bark lying down'. That's what I do now – I train calm and then on the day of the competition, I go out there like the devil is chasing me.”
Cory Coffey rides the bank at Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex
© Emily Tidwell / Red Bull Content Pool
09
Helping the next generation is not only a passion, but a duty
Dhers knows he benefited from the help of more experienced athletes when he was younger, and now he gets a thrill from sharing his knowledge with up-and-coming riders and seeing them succeed.
“Time goes by and I'm not the same guy as I was early on, I've become a guide for the new generation. It's another aspect of being a professional.
“I have a lot of information. I went down a path and what I can give new generations is the information about how to get there and how to achieve things that I achieved, because I also got advice and also because I found the way accidentally. I think this is the minimum I could do for the new generation. At the end of the day, this is what makes the sport improve.
Nikita Ducarroz sessions at Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex
© Emily Tidwell / Red Bull Content Pool
Queen Saray backflips at the Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex
© Emily Tidwell / Red Bull Content Pool
“In BMX there's a lot of camaraderie. I want to continue supporting new generations, because it'd be selfish to keep all that information to myself. I want the rest of the riders to grow. For example, with the girls who train in my park [Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex in North Carolina, USA], I'm always pushing them to improve their technique, to learn new tricks, to answer and solve questions. For me, it was beautiful to see them reach [their goals].”
10
He’s got Paris 2024 square in his sights
Dhers is vying hard for a spot at the upcoming Games in Paris to top off his win in Tokyo in 2020, competing in UCI events across the globe. In September 2022 he won the Venezuelan National Championship, but his season was cut short in November when he fell and injured his ankle in Abu Dhabi. Bouncing back in 2023 he triumphed at the American Continental Championships in Paraguay in May, taking the crown of BMX Park champion.
“To win once is easy. The difficult thing is to keep being successful over the years. This requires staying focused for a long time. The most flexible person wins – not the strongest, but the one who adapts best to change. That's what this is about. Your rivals change, the competition changes and you need to adapt.”
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