Most dominant -- the summer edition
Most dominant X Games athletes
Now through X Games Austin 2015, XGames.com is looking back at the most dominant athletes to compete in summer X Games history. And who could forget Travis Pastrana at X Games Vll, where he stomped the once unknown double backflip in Moto X Best Trick. Pastrana, among nine other athletes, remains one of the most formidable competitors at X Games events, and those athletes are being celebrated on ABC's "World of X Games." Tune in to watch "World of X Games: Most Dominant" on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Now through X Games Austin 2015, XGames.com is looking back at the most dominant athletes to compete in summer X Games history. And who could forget Travis Pastrana at X Games Vll, where he stomped the once unknown double backflip in Moto X Best Trick. Pastrana, among nine other athletes, remains one of the most formidable competitors at X Games events, and those athletes are being celebrated on ABC's "World of X Games." Tune in to watch "World of X Games: Most Dominant" on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Miracle Man: Dave Mirra
At age 41, veteran BMX Park, Dirt and Big Air competitor Dave Mirra claims 14 gold medals and 24 total medals in his tenure with X Games. How? He totally dominated the early years of BMX: In his first 12 X Games competition starts (in BMX Vert, Park and Vert Best Trick) from 1995-2000, Dave didn't finish worse than second (nine gold, three silver). He also pulled a three-peat in BMX Vert and has the second-most X Games medals in all-time X Games history. These days, he concentrates on triathlons, but no one can deny the legacy of the "Miracle Man."
At age 41, veteran BMX Park, Dirt and Big Air competitor Dave Mirra claims 14 gold medals and 24 total medals in his tenure with X Games. How? He totally dominated the early years of BMX: In his first 12 X Games competition starts (in BMX Vert, Park and Vert Best Trick) from 1995-2000, Dave didn't finish worse than second (nine gold, three silver). He also pulled a three-peat in BMX Vert and has the second-most X Games medals in all-time X Games history. These days, he concentrates on triathlons, but no one can deny the legacy of the "Miracle Man."
Quist for gold: Bob Burnquist
Go big or go home? That's all a part of the process for veteran Skateboard Big Air competitor Bob Burnquist. Now 38, Burnquist has won five straight Skateboard Big Air gold medals from 2011 through Munich in 2013. He has medaled in 12 straight Skateboard Big Air competitions, and lays claim to earning the most medals ever in X Games history. This year, Burnquist is back for Skateboard Big Air, and his sights are set on yet another gold.
Go big or go home? That's all a part of the process for veteran Skateboard Big Air competitor Bob Burnquist. Now 38, Burnquist has won five straight Skateboard Big Air gold medals from 2011 through Munich in 2013. He has medaled in 12 straight Skateboard Big Air competitions, and lays claim to earning the most medals ever in X Games history. This year, Burnquist is back for Skateboard Big Air, and his sights are set on yet another gold.
Moto X Royalty: Travis Pastrana
Considered by many to be the best Moto X Freestyle rider in history, Travis Pastrana's X Games accomplishments span multiple years and disciplines. In fact, Pastrana has 17 medals from five different disciplines. He has gold from Moto X Freestyle, Moto X Best Trick, Rally Racing and Moto X Speed & Style. And if that's not enough, he also has a Moto X Step Up silver medal, and one of the most formidable Moto X Freestyle legacies to grace X Games. Pastrana is famous for saying, "X Games is all about progression," and it's a mantra he has lived by.
Considered by many to be the best Moto X Freestyle rider in history, Travis Pastrana's X Games accomplishments span multiple years and disciplines. In fact, Pastrana has 17 medals from five different disciplines. He has gold from Moto X Freestyle, Moto X Best Trick, Rally Racing and Moto X Speed & Style. And if that's not enough, he also has a Moto X Step Up silver medal, and one of the most formidable Moto X Freestyle legacies to grace X Games. Pastrana is famous for saying, "X Games is all about progression," and it's a mantra he has lived by.
Best in Show: Jamie Bestwick
In the history of BMX Vert competitions at X Games, one name stands above the rest: Jamie Bestwick. Hailing from the U.K., Bestwick left a full-time job as an airplane engineer to pursue his BMX Vert ambitions, and the results have been nothing short of amazing. To date, Bestwick has won nine straight BMX Vert gold medals at X Games (2007-present), and he's primed to grab number 10 at X Games Austin 2015. On top of that record, Bestwick has won 11 of the past 13 X Games BMX Vert comps, and claims 13 X Games gold medals total.
In the history of BMX Vert competitions at X Games, one name stands above the rest: Jamie Bestwick. Hailing from the U.K., Bestwick left a full-time job as an airplane engineer to pursue his BMX Vert ambitions, and the results have been nothing short of amazing. To date, Bestwick has won nine straight BMX Vert gold medals at X Games (2007-present), and he's primed to grab number 10 at X Games Austin 2015. On top of that record, Bestwick has won 11 of the past 13 X Games BMX Vert comps, and claims 13 X Games gold medals total.
Hawk takes Flight: Tony Hawk
In his history as an X Games Skateboard Vert competitor, Tony Hawk had 17 competition starts and medaled in 16 of those starts. No one else in X Games history has been able to replicate that success or longevity at an X Games event ever. Although he hasn't competed since 2003, he still boasts 10 X Games gold medals to his name. On top of Hawk's medal count, he also holds down one of most famous X Games moments in history: His 900 air landed in San Francisco in 1999.
In his history as an X Games Skateboard Vert competitor, Tony Hawk had 17 competition starts and medaled in 16 of those starts. No one else in X Games history has been able to replicate that success or longevity at an X Games event ever. Although he hasn't competed since 2003, he still boasts 10 X Games gold medals to his name. On top of Hawk's medal count, he also holds down one of most famous X Games moments in history: His 900 air landed in San Francisco in 1999.
Huston's Rise: Nyjah Huston
In more recent years, the face of Skateboard Street has seen a new dominant athlete rise to the top of the ranks: Nyjah Huston. Huston has won five of the past seven X Games SKB Street comps, some by overwhelming margins. And with his 2012 Real Street gold, Huston earned six gold and nine XG medals total as a teenager. That ties him with Shaun White for most medals collected as a teen. The sky is the limit for Huston, who already is the best contest street skater in history.
In more recent years, the face of Skateboard Street has seen a new dominant athlete rise to the top of the ranks: Nyjah Huston. Huston has won five of the past seven X Games SKB Street comps, some by overwhelming margins. And with his 2012 Real Street gold, Huston earned six gold and nine XG medals total as a teenager. That ties him with Shaun White for most medals collected as a teen. The sky is the limit for Huston, who already is the best contest street skater in history.
First Lady of X: Fabiola da Silva
Considered to the be the first female star of X Games, Brazilian Aggressive In-Line Skater Fabiola da Silva was just 17 when she took gold as an X Games rookie in 1996. She won five of the six Aggressive In-Line Vert comps at X Games and earned eight medals between 1996 and 2003 (seven of them gold.) And when X Games dropped Women's Aggressive In-Line, da Silva took on the men, placing sixth against the men in 2004 Vert. Now age 35, da Silva continues to skate at home in Brazil.
Considered to the be the first female star of X Games, Brazilian Aggressive In-Line Skater Fabiola da Silva was just 17 when she took gold as an X Games rookie in 1996. She won five of the six Aggressive In-Line Vert comps at X Games and earned eight medals between 1996 and 2003 (seven of them gold.) And when X Games dropped Women's Aggressive In-Line, da Silva took on the men, placing sixth against the men in 2004 Vert. Now age 35, da Silva continues to skate at home in Brazil.
Buck the Trends: Bucky Lasek
Between 1999 and 2013, Bucky Lasek won eight Skateboard Vert gold medals at X Games. Before 2013, Lasek looked as though he might be taking a backseat at competitions, and then he came back onto the Skateboard Vert scene and swept the Global X Games series throughout 2013. Lasek won all four stops (Brazil, Spain, Germany and the U.S.), and then came back in 2014 to medal in a different event: RallyCross. At X Games Austin 2014, Lasek took the silver medal in Rally, bringing his total medal count up to 20.
Between 1999 and 2013, Bucky Lasek won eight Skateboard Vert gold medals at X Games. Before 2013, Lasek looked as though he might be taking a backseat at competitions, and then he came back onto the Skateboard Vert scene and swept the Global X Games series throughout 2013. Lasek won all four stops (Brazil, Spain, Germany and the U.S.), and then came back in 2014 to medal in a different event: RallyCross. At X Games Austin 2014, Lasek took the silver medal in Rally, bringing his total medal count up to 20.
Reynolds Wrap: Garrett Reynolds
BMX Street has been held eight times at X Games. Reynolds won the first six and has taken seven of the eight. He settled for silver in the L.A. 2013 iteration, narrowly losing to Chad Kerley. BMX Street will not be competed at X Games Austin 2015, but Reynolds has more up his sleeves. He's releasing new video parts for sponsor Red Bull, and will appear on the "World of X Games" later this year on a trip with shoe sponsor Nike.
BMX Street has been held eight times at X Games. Reynolds won the first six and has taken seven of the eight. He settled for silver in the L.A. 2013 iteration, narrowly losing to Chad Kerley. BMX Street will not be competed at X Games Austin 2015, but Reynolds has more up his sleeves. He's releasing new video parts for sponsor Red Bull, and will appear on the "World of X Games" later this year on a trip with shoe sponsor Nike.
Vote for Pedro: Pedro Barros
At age 20, Pedro Barros is the youngest X Games competitor on the most dominant list, coming in a few months shy of Nyjah Huston. As an X Games Skateboard Park competitor, Barros is formidable. He has taken gold in five of the past seven Skateboard Park events, finishing second in the two events he didn't win. And those seven SKB Park starts and seven medals were all accomplished when Barros was still a teenager.
At age 20, Pedro Barros is the youngest X Games competitor on the most dominant list, coming in a few months shy of Nyjah Huston. As an X Games Skateboard Park competitor, Barros is formidable. He has taken gold in five of the past seven Skateboard Park events, finishing second in the two events he didn't win. And those seven SKB Park starts and seven medals were all accomplished when Barros was still a teenager.
Pierre's Air: Pierre-Luc Gagnon
The field of Skateboard Vert at X Games has a longstanding history of formidable competitors, and Canadian Pierre-Luc Gagnon is among the most elite. In 16 X Games competition starts between 2004 and 2012, Gagnon tallied 14 medals (six were gold). And from 2008 through 2010, Gagnon scored a three-peat in Vert, only to lose out to Shaun White the following year. With 20 medals overall, Gagnon is tied for fifth for most X Games medals in XG history. And he's on the invite list for X Games Austin 2015.
The field of Skateboard Vert at X Games has a longstanding history of formidable competitors, and Canadian Pierre-Luc Gagnon is among the most elite. In 16 X Games competition starts between 2004 and 2012, Gagnon tallied 14 medals (six were gold). And from 2008 through 2010, Gagnon scored a three-peat in Vert, only to lose out to Shaun White the following year. With 20 medals overall, Gagnon is tied for fifth for most X Games medals in XG history. And he's on the invite list for X Games Austin 2015.
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