Mike Day
BMX Rider and 2008 Silver Medalist
On his ninth birthday, when Mike Day picked up his first BMX bike and began riding with his brother, he had no idea that he was on the path to becoming an Olympic athlete. Let alone that he would one day win the silver medal.
In The Family
Day, a 23-year old California native began riding with his older brother, Dave, who was a competitive racer. Day’s younger brother, Matt, later joined them on the local BMX circuit. Day was a loyal BMX racer during his childhood. He focused solely on BMX rather than competing in school sports.
Going Pro
In 2002, at the age of seventeen, Day turned pro and quickly began to rise through the ranks of the BMX race community. He earned a reputation as a fast and fierce competitor. He is also an imposing figure on the track as his height (6’3”) is quite a bit taller than that of his competitors. Among his accomplishments in the few years after turning pro, Day has won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2003 summer X Games. He has also medaled twice at the BMX World Championship, placing second in 2005 and third place in 2006. After having made a name for himself as a top BMX racer, Day enjoyed the respect of fans and competitors alike. How much further could he go?
The 2008 Olympics
On June 14, 2008, in Chula Vista, CA, Mike Day claimed the second spot on the U.S. men’s Olympic BMX team (the first spot had been awarded to Kyle Bennett). During the qualifying races, Day was so far ahead of the other racers, in points that there was no way, mathematically that anyone could catch him. Rather than putting the other riders at risk when there was no hope of them winning, the final moto was canceled. Day had his spot on the debut Olympic BMX team along with Bennett, Donny Robinson and women’s team rider, Jill Kintner. Day was so dedicated to his Olympic training that he opted out of the UCI BMX Championship which also took place in Beijing, China. On August 22, 2008, all of his hard work paid off when Day earned the silver medal for the U.S. team (Robinson and Kintner both earned bronze medals).
Some Facts About Mike Day
- Rides for GT/Red Bull.
- Is close friends with Bubba Harris, who had been a favorite to make the US Olympic team.
- Rides southern CA trails & parks.
- Also enjoys snowboarding and golf.
- His race number has a meaning: #365 Day (ie-365 days per year)
- Has an interest in architecture and has admitted that he wants to become a chiropractor
- He has an English Bulldong named "Tater"
Mike Day and Donny Robinson
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