Mariana Pajón facts for kids
Pajón in 2013
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mariana Pajón Londoño |
| Nickname | "Tata", "Queen of BMX" |
| Born | 10 October 1991 Medellín, Colombia |
| Height | 1.58 m |
| Weight | 53 kg |
| Team information | |
| Current team |  Colombia |
| Discipline |
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| Role | Rider |
Mariana Pajón Londoño is a super talented Colombian cyclist. She is famous for her amazing skills in BMX racing. Many people call her the "Queen of BMX" because she has won so many important races. She has won two Olympic gold medals and many World Championships.
Mariana was born in Medellín, Colombia, on October 10, 1991. She started riding a bike when she was only three years old. By the time she was four, she was already training on a track. Her first race was against kids older than her, but she still loved it!
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Mariana Pajón: Colombia's BMX Queen
Mariana showed her talent very early. She won her first national title in cycling when she was just five years old. By age nine, she had already won her first world title! This was just the beginning of her incredible career.
She has won a total of 14 World Championships. She also has 2 national championships in the United States, 9 Latin American Championships, and 10 Pan American championships. In 2011, she was named the Colombian Athlete of the Year. A special BMX track in Medellín was even named after her. She later won a World Championship on that very track in 2016.
Olympic Triumphs in BMX
Mariana Pajón has made history for Colombia at the Olympic Games. She has won two gold medals and one silver medal. Her Olympic journey began in 2012.
London 2012 Gold Medal
Mariana was chosen to carry Colombia's flag at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. This was a huge honor! She then competed in the BMX event. She performed brilliantly in the semifinals, winning all three races. In the final, Mariana won the gold medal with a time of 37.706 seconds. This was Colombia's first gold medal at those games.
Rio 2016 Double Gold
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Mariana aimed to defend her title. She raced with incredible speed and skill. She won her second Olympic gold medal! This made her the first Colombian athlete ever to win two Olympic gold medals. It was a truly historic moment for her country.
Tokyo 2020 Silver Medal
Mariana continued her Olympic success at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She raced hard and earned a silver medal in the BMX event. This added another amazing achievement to her collection.
World Championship Wins
Besides her Olympic medals, Mariana has also won many World Championships. These are races where the best riders from all over the world compete.
She won her first Junior World Championship in 2008 in China. She won two more Junior World Championships in 2009 in Australia. As an adult, she has won six Elite Women's World Championships. These wins include titles in BMX racing and BMX time trials. Her victories show her consistent dominance in the sport.
Beyond the Track: Personal Life
Mariana Pajón comes from a family of athletes. Her father, Carlos Mario Pajón, was a motor racing enthusiast. Her mother, Claudia Londoño, enjoyed horse riding. Mariana attended the Sacred Heart Montemayor Catholic school.
On December 16, 2017, Mariana married fellow BMX rider Vincent Pelluard. Vincent is from France, but he now represents Colombia in international competitions. He became a Colombian citizen after their marriage. Mariana was also awarded the Order of Boyaca, a high honor in Colombia.
Images for kids
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Mariana Pajón won Olympic Gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics
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See also
In Spanish: Mariana Pajón para niños
