In an explosive final, Australian Boyd Hilder triumphed, becoming a three-time gold medalist at Simple Session with a score of 94.25. With just a one-point deficit, Jordan Clark from Great Britain secured second place, while Japanese rider Rim Nakamura (92.25) took the bronze.
After a crash in yesterday’s qualifiers, Boyd Hilder was in second-to-last place, 14th, after his first run. “My foot slipped off the pedal in the first run, and I didn’t want to risk big tricks after that, so I had to put all my eggs in one basket and go all in for the last attempt,” Hilder commented. His gamble paid off, as his second run was filled with well-executed tricks on both sides of the arena. “I always plan my runs carefully in advance and try to use the entire course. What made me the happiest was landing the backflip Smith grind.”
BMX head judge David Cleworth said that Boyd Hilder’s uniqueness in trick selection secured his victory. “He found a completely different way to use the course—his riding was highly inventive, creative, and original,” Cleworth praised. “For example, a backflip Smith grind on an element no one else had used before, a very stylish one-handed cannonball, or the toothpick grind up—I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that trick. It was a well-thought-out run that looked completely natural.”
As for Jordan Clark, who was competing at Simple Session for the first time, Cleworth praised his energy. “Pulling off such a risky trick as a double flare at the 59-second mark after an intense run is what earned him second place,” Cleworth explained.
The 2020 Simple Session champion Rim Nakamura fell on his second attempt, showing how easily things can go wrong, according to Cleworth. However, his first run, packed with backflips, flares, and spins, helped him hold onto third place.
The final format allows athletes to rely on their best run out of two, giving them the opportunity to take more risks and pack a lot of tricks into a single minute-long attempt. Judges evaluate overall execution, creativity, and difficulty. This year’s BMX judging panel included David Cleworth (UK), Bart de Jong (NDL), Markus Wilke (GER), and Van Homan (USA).
Four Estonian riders—Siim Savik, Tauno Krüüts, Kristen Põder, and Roomet Säälik—competed in the BMX qualifiers. The best Estonian result came from Roomet Säälik, who finished 21st out of 52 riders, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the final.
Simple Session 2025 BMX Final Results:
1. Boyd Hilder, AUS, 94.24
2. Jordan Clark, GBR, 93.25
3. Rim Nakamura, JPN, 92.25
4. Matt Ray, USA, 89.25
5. Dylan Hessey, GBR, 88.25
6. Joji Mizogaki, JPN, 87.62
7. Ernests Zebolds, LAT, 83.75
8. Stuart Chisholm, GBR, 82.75
9. Levi Weidmann, NED, 81.67
10. Kaede Ozawa, JPN, 80.25
11. Miller Temple, GBR, 80.00
12. Ezequiel Helmreich, ARG, 70.25
13. Santiago Levarde, COL, 65.50
14. Jack Clark, GBR, 58.25
15. Jose Cedano, CHI, 32.5