BMX freestyle legend Daniel Dhers reveals future plans: "Your mentality changes as your brain gets older" 

BMX freestyle legend Daniel Dhers has seen and done it all in his sport.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist has already competed for 18 years as a professional, can still hang with the best but soon it's time to say goodbye.

The 38-year-old has told Olympics.com that he wants to retire after the Paris 2024 Games.

“It would be awesome to reclaim another Olympic medal,” the Venezuelan said.

And then what?

The ‘Godfather of BMX’ who has lived abroad for more than 20 years sees his future at home:

“I know it's time to go back. I know it's time for me to invest in my country as well.” 

The five-time Summer X-Games champion plans to dedicate more time to his sports academy in Venezuela that teaches athletes key skills like mental preparation, branding knowledge, media and investment savviness.

Moving back home also means that he will no longer be in charge of the ‘Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex’ in Holly Springs, North Carolina. “The complex as of now is hanging by a thread,” Dhers admitted hoping that another rider is willing to take over.

Dhers: New role as coach for the Chinese team

Dhers is used to wearing many hats at the same time. While many riders call him an idol or mentor, they also see him as a threat. Add the role as coach to the mix.

At this year's UCI World Championships in Glasgow, he is competing AND working as head coach of the Chinese BMX Freestyle Team.

A position he started earlier this year. Dhers mainly focuses on the women’s team but gives advice to the men’s team as well.

“They were looking for a coach that could guide them and fine tune their riders to make it into the Olympics. That's basically my job. I want to make sure they're able to learn the basic skills that will help them do the bigger skills later. Learn how to compete, how to make the team function correctly,” Dhers revealed.

His work has paid off. The female BMX freestylers of the People’s Republic of China have excelled in this season's World Cup.

Zhou Huimin has won two of the three events so far. At the most recent World Cup event in Brussels, the Chinese team had five women in the Top Ten, with Xia Honglin finishing third behind Hannah Roberts (USA) and Zhou.

“They're very disciplined. They understand the goal. We are in tune. We both know what we're here to do. We both want to qualify. We both want to ride the best. Me personally and them as a team. So, I'm stoked to be with them now.”

The support also goes the other way. Dhers who was used to go to competitions without a big team, can now rely on the Chinese team to help him with practical things.

“I picked up a family, because I normally do all these trips by myself 90 percent of the time. Now they're helping me with everything: wheels, water, massages, transportation - everything. It is a job that requires some of my time, but at the same time, I picked up help that I needed, because these events are tough,” Dhers added.

“When you battle with big teams they have ten people with them, helping with everything they need. The riders show up and they just ride. If you open my backpack, I have things you cannot even imagine, because I know that I might need them. Now with the team, I know they have everything that I need as well.”

Dhers will be coaching the Chinese team at least until the end of the Paris Olympics and is not ruling out to stay on after that.

“I'm having a good time, so I might continue with them. I might spend some time in China, some time in Venezuela,” he explained.

Dhers on competing with a different mentality changes as your brain gets older”

But Dhers has plenty of gas left in his competitve tank.

Earlier this year, he won the Pan American Continental Championships in Paraguay.

What challenges does the veteran face when competing with the young guns in BMX freestyle at 38?

“It's physically more demanding. I ride every day, I work out, I change my programs, but I'm constantly on it. I'm trying not to travel as much, because I do notice how that's a big toll on the body,” Dhers said.

“I also think your mentality changes as your brain gets older. I’ve lived through so much, competing for so many years. The young riders have zero to lose 100% of the time - a do-or-die mentality. Although I do that, I don't do that as often anymore.”

Dhers on Paris 2024

Just don't count Dhers out as a competitor.

The first BMX Olympic freestyle event took place at Tokyo 2020. Dhers was 36 at the time - the oldest competitor by seven years.

He is aware that it will be tough to make it to the Games a second time but he is dreaming big.

“I would love to qualify, which is definitely a bit harder this time. There's new blood, and they're hungry, and they've seen me ride for so long. However, I do have the experience. If I qualify for the Olympics, it would be awesome to retire there, and it would be lovely to leave the competition world with a medal.”

“Either way, the most important part is to go and be able to represent my country, especially after the last Olympics where Venezuela united to see sports," Dhers added. "It was the first time Venezuela was so happy in a long, long time - the whole country. So that's the main goal.”