TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa resident Felicia Stancil is looking to win her first Olympic medal in Paris, representing Team USA.
The 15-time world champion has won every single world title since she was just 18 years old. Stancil, one of five BMX riders who qualified for the Olympics, is now striving for a gold medal.
But her athletic success hasn’t come without challenges.
At three years old, Stancil’s mom passed away. It wasn’t until a year later that her dad introduced her to the sport he also did, BMX.
“We got into a little argument and I wasn’t going inside until he took off my training wheels,” Stancil told NBC affiliate WBBH. “It’s been a journey ever since which is crazy.”
Stancil and her father bonded over racing BMX — saying the two have lots of memories of him pushing her, turning tragedy into triumph.
“Having my dad be there will honestly make it even more special,” she told WBBH.
In 2020, Stancil competed in Tokyo, finishing fourth, just shy of four seconds from an Olympic medal. Since then, she moved to Tampa to train in BMX year-round, hoping this Olympic run would end with a medal around her neck.
“I hope that I hear the United States national anthem on the podium. That would be amazing.”
Stancil will compete on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 on NBC.
