Montería, Colombia—There are athletes you admire from afar, and when you meet them in person, you discover they are greater than all the titles and medals they’ve won and chronicled, thanks to their simple way of speaking, their sincere smile, and above all, their incredible confessions.
This is what happened to me with Mariana Pajón, who, after putting Théo (who turns four months old on March 28) to sleep in her arms, handed him to his father, Vincent Pelluard, and agreed to photos and an exclusive interview.
Nicknamed “the Atomic Ant,” the two-time Olympic champion in BMX (London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016) and silver medalist in Tokyo 2020, as well as a 12-time world champion, had no qualms about talking about superstitions and future projects, nor about revealing her admiration for Cuba and the entire legacy that a discipline like cycling leaves in societies. She spoke standing up, and it seemed like a professional dream come true. Here’s exactly what happened.
“I was in Cuba when I was very little, but I’d like to go back someday, although I’ve been told there aren’t any BMX tracks. I know they’re good on the track and on the road, and also in other sports like baseball, boxing, wrestling, judo…,” she said, as if recalling a very recent memory.
“No retirement yet. I want to compete in this Olympic cycle in the team sprint, that is, on the track. They asked me because they need a rider, and I’ll be the one to lead the way. Besides, I’ll keep doing BMX and I hope to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games,” commented the Medellín native, born in 1991, who could have been a gymnast as her parents wanted, but fell in love with cycling.
“I’m enjoying motherhood and I like it. Théo is a much-wanted child, and I plan to give him a sibling after Los Angeles,” she added, her lips glowing with happiness, as if she wanted everyone to know, although she hadn’t stated it so categorically to any journalist before. I then ask her about her other love: the world of cranks and pedals. How did she get into it, and if we could see her as a coach once she retires from competitive sports.
“I’ve been riding a bike since I was four, and at nine I won my first competition in Argentina. We always had excellent talent recruitment programs in all disciplines, and people rode bikes a lot, which is why so many cyclists emerged. On Sundays, they would close the streets for races, and that was crucial.
“I don’t think I could become a coach. I would have to prepare myself because it’s not enough to have practiced sports for a long time and be a world or Olympic medalist.” That requires study and knowledge that I don’t currently possess, and it seems my future lies in a different direction.”
I share with her some information I’ve read before. Her profession as a nursing assistant; her favorite dish is bandeja paisa, although she also loves pepperoni pizza, and she’s terrified of getting up early. She smiles brightly and adds: “I also compete wearing mismatched socks…”
We talk about idols and new responsibilities. “Mario Soto was my role model in cycling. He was a BMX world champion and died very young in an accident. Now I greatly admire Santiago Botero, Rigoberto Urán, Egan Bernal—in short, we’re all family.”
“I never imagined being the voice of so many cyclists on the Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission and then being elected to the Board of Directors of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). It’s an immense honor and, at the same time, another huge responsibility, which I accept because I understand I can contribute something. I want to carry out several projects to develop cycling from the ground up, starting with children. The UCI president has great faith in me and in everything I can contribute to the Americas region.”
Théo hasn’t woken up yet, but Mariana hasn’t stopped watching him nestled against his father’s chest. I feel I can’t avoid the common question, the one the reader always wants to hear: Did you have any dreams left unfulfilled after achieving the most coveted prizes?
Of course. Many, many. Sometimes things don’t go as planned in world championships and races you train for for months. I prefer to say that I fulfilled some, surpassed others, and I only have a few left, but dreams still remain… Mariana Pajón is one of those great athletes you think you like from afar, but you end up loving them when they grant you their friendship, their affection, their words.