BMX racer Maris Strombergs has earned the nickname The Machine.The Latvian is the only man to win BMX cycling gold in the disciplines short Olympic history.In 2008, Strombergs swept through the competition from the quarterfinals. He wasnt quite as strong during the early rounds in 2012, but won the final anyway. Now 29, Strombergs will be one of the older competitors at the Rio Olympics, where the average age of a rider skews closer to the early-to-mid 20s.Strombergs does have that Olympic pedigree , though. USA Cycling BMX director Jaime Staff said Strombergs has the ability to peak toward one or two events a year.A physical specimen for sure, mentally very tough, Staff said. Hes able to switch it on when he needs to.Both the mens and womens fields figure to be as competitive as ever. Here are a few notes and other things to watch in Brazil:MEET MARIANAMariana Pajon is a star in her native Colombia after winning gold in 2012. She took the womens title in late May at the world BMX championships on a track named after her in her home country, and figures to be a top contender again in Rio.Pajon had been dealing with injuries in the months leading up to worlds that limited her typical training regimen. But Pajon can also draw on the experience of international success.She knows exactly what needs to be done to be the best, said Colombia coach German Medina.WHAT A RUSHImagine sitting on a BMX bicycle, staring down a ramp about three stories high while anxiously awaiting a signal to take off. As with horse racing, a gate prevents anyone from getting a head start. But this is no flat, oval track. Its winding, nearly quarter mile-long course with groomed dirt hills serving as bumpy obstacles. Someone could be pedaling as fast as 40 mph after clearing the starting ramp.Even the best BMX competitors in the world will have to steel themselves at the Rio Olympics. Team USA rider Alise Post compares BMX cycling to a mix of horse racing and getting in the front car of an amusement park ride.Youre in this starting gate ... and then everybody goes, said Post, a top medal contender . After that youre riding a roller coaster. Everything happens fast out there.The action sport is aimed at attracting a younger audience to the Summer Games, having been introduced in 2008 in Beijing. Post, 25, watched that competition eight years ago. She rode in London in 2012, finishing 12th.OLYMPIAN EFFORTSTwo of the top U.S. riders are bouncing back from recent injuries. Connor Fields and Brooke Crain, who each competed in London, have returned to the track, and they should have plenty of time to prepare since the BMX competition will be held toward the end of the Olympics in mid-August.Fields was the top-ranked American in the world before hurting his wrist this spring. He was cleared to start training again in mid-June, and returned to the Rio-replica track for the first time on June 27. Crain came back after five weeks away following a broken left leg. She fractured her fibula while extending the leg while trying to brace herself from a crash during a race.TEAM USAThe United States is looking for its first BMX gold and was shut out of the podium entirely in 2012. Fields and Crain were discretionary picks to the U.S. team. Post was an automatic qualifier after finishing third at worlds. On the mens side, Fields will be joined by automatic qualifiers Nic Long, who placed third at worlds; and Corben Sharrah, who won the U.S. Olympic trials. Its the strongest squad that Team USA could field, headlined by some of the top-ranked racers in the world.Probably the best team we could wish for, Staff said.OTHERS TO WATCHNiek Kimmann of the Netherlands, who won the time trials at worlds, is atop the world rankings on the mens side. Joris Daudet of France, who won the elite title, is fifth in the world. Australias Sam Willougby took silver in 2012 and remains a medal favorite. ... Australian teammate Caroline Buchanan, who took the time trials at worlds, is just 10 points behind Pajon in second place in the world rankings. Laura Smulders of the Netherlands is back after winning bronze in London.---Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP Air Max 98 China . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. Air Max 2015 China . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. http://www.cheapairmaxfromchina.com/air-max-2012-china/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Air Max invigor China .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Air Max 1 China . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. MORZINE, France -- Dont expect Chris Froome to indulge in big celebrations on the Champs Elysees. After effectively securing a third Tour de France title on Saturday, the Kenyan-born British rider has already turned his focus to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.Froome, a bronze Olympic medalist in the time trial four years ago in London, will once again be among the favorites in the race against the clock in Brazil.Froome even beat specialist Tom Dumoulin in his favorite discipline in Thursdays second time trial.I think its a course (in Rio) that suits me well, theres almost a thousand meters of climbing and its almost 60 kilometers in length, said Froome, who will also compete in the road race in Rio. Its going to be an extremely tough event. I won a bronze medal in the last Olympics in London and it would be absolutely incredible to win another one this year.The 54.5-kilometer (34-mile) mens time trial in Rio, which features four climbs, is on Aug. 110.dddddddddddd.Froome traveled to Rio during the winter to preview the Olympic circuit and has changed his preparations this year to maintain peak form until the games.Four years ago, Froomes former teammate Bradley Wiggins managed to secure a Tour-Olympics double, triumphing in the London 2012 Games time trial ahead of German Tony Martin and Froome after posting the first British win at the Tour in July.Froomes hopes of victory in Rio have been boosted by Dumoulins injury at the Tour on Friday. The Dutchman pulled out of the Tour after fracturing his wrist and might not recover in time for the Olympics.Froome said he will take some days off to recover before competing in a one-day race in London next weekend.Then its off to Rio.Well be there about a week before the race to start training a bit more again, Froome said. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '