Scotty Cranmer - ESPN photo.

Ryan Nyquist. ESPN photo.

Pat Casey. ESPN photo.

Scotty Cranmer’s last X Games BMX Freestyle Park Gold came in 2009 when he dashed Daniel Dhers’ three-peat hopes. On Saturday afternoon, it was déjà-vu as Cranmer picked up his third BMX Freestyle Park gold, ending Daniel Dhers run and living up to his name as the “three-peat killer”. Cranmer’s winning run included a Double Backflip Tailwhip coupled with other big burly moves and technical tricks that distanced himself from the rest of the field.

“I’ve worked so long for this I can’t believe it’s here,” breathed an exhausted but clearly stoked Cranmer. In a sport that involves a lot of mental preparation, riders are often the cause of their own demise. “It was myself that was holding me back and that’s also what got me back. You have to adapt, that’s the only way to do it.

BMX Freestyle Park veteran Ryan Nyquist reclaimed his spot on the podium, winning his first medal since 2005 with one of the most unique runs of the day that included a 360-flatspin into the tunnel to earn a total score of 76.00. During the heats, Nyquist rode a line that earned the single highest score of the competition with a score of 42.00, and eventually earned him the silver medal.

“The course really comes down to the line you pick, you pick a good line that allows you do a lot of different tricks and then you can throw it out but it’s tough man,” commented Nyquist.

Bronze medalist Pat Casey secured his spot on the podium in his second X Games appearance by tying Nyquist’s score of 76.00. The tie-breaker was broken only because Nyquist held the higher single-run scores of the two.

“I just went out there and wanted to have fun. I kind of didn’t plan my run but just started going and it just happened,” said Casey on his third-place run. The rookie of the three riders, Casey managed to hold off his nerves long enough to pick up his first X Games medal. “It’s a crazy feeling, I was nervous but everything worked out.”

PODIUM RESULTS:

1. Scotty Cranmer - 79.00

2. Ryan Nyquist - 77.00

3. Pat Casey - 76