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His goal is to make it to the Paris Olympics. Pro BMX racer Asuma Nakai was fascinated by BMX at the age of 5.

2024.10.11

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A circle of friends connected by goo touching! The “FIST BUMP” corner of the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE” features people who live and enjoy Tokyo in a relay format.

On January 17, professional BMX racer Asuma Nakai was introduced by Mr.MARCO, the representative of the creative label “MANNERS KNOWS”, and we asked him about his encounter with BMX, the appeal of BMX racing, his thoughts on the Paris Olympics, and more.

He met BMX by chance near his parents’ house.

Celeina (MC): Today is your first radio appearance.

Nakai: Yes, it is. I’m nervous because I’ve never appeared on the radio before. Please give me your best regards.

Celeina: It’s nice to meet you. At the age of 5, he first encountered BMX racing in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, and at the age of 11, he made it to the finals of the World Championships for the first time. At the age of 12, he was scouted by a strong team in the U.S., the home of BMX racing, and began competing overseas. In 2019, he won the All-Japan Championships in his first year in the elite class, and in 2021 he became the first Japanese rider to win the U23 series championship in the UCI BMX World Cup series. In 2023, he won the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Skillful riding is his specialty. He is aiming to win an Olympic medal with his sharp riding.

Nakai: Thank you very much.

Takano (MC): You started BMX when you were 5 years old, right?

Nakai: That’s right. But all the athletes who compete in BMX races started early, starting at the age of 2 or 3 with a strider, which doesn’t have pedals and is ridden by pushing. I was 5 years old when I got off the support wheels, so I am a very slow rider.

Celeina:Do you remember the feeling you had when you saw your first BMX race at age 5?

Nakai:I remember. My parents live in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, and there happened to be a BMX race course nearby. It was very interesting to be able to control my own speed, which I would never feel in my daily life, like riding a roller coaster. That was the first time I rode a BMX, and I went to a bicycle shop with my father and had him buy me a BMX.

Takano: You were not forced to do it, but you took the initiative.

Nakai: That’s right.

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