Perris Benegas Explained

Fullname:Perris Benegas
Birth Date:1995 7, mf=yes
Birth Place:Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Country:
Sport:Freestyle BMX, Dirt jumping
Updated:August 6, 2024

Perris Benegas (;[1] born July 22, 1995) is an American freestyle BMX cyclist. She won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Career

In 2018, Perris won the gold medal in Freestyle BMX park at the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Chengdu, China, with two other American women, Angie Marino and Hannah Roberts, taking second and third.[2] She was named 2020 Bloom BMX Freestyle Rider of the Year.[3]

Olympic Games

Benegas competed for the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the first ever BMX Freetyle Park event.[4] She came second in the seeding round behind teammate Hannah Roberts. The next day Benegas finished forth in the final, just 0.70 away from the bronze medal.

After suffering a anterior cruciate knee ligament injury that required surgery in June 2023, she returned to competition in May 2024. She won a silver medal in Women's BMX freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics on July 31, 2024.[5] Benegas provisionally placed forth after the first final run and improved to 90.70 to finish second in the competition behind China's Deng Yawen.

Competitive history

All results are sourced from the Union Cycliste Internationale.

As of August 6, 2024:

Olympic Games

EventFreestyle Park
align=left 2020 Tokyo4th
align=left 2024 ParisSilver

UCI Cycling World Championships

EventFreestyle Park
align=left 2018 ChengduGold
align=left 2019 Chengdu8th
align=left 2021 Montpellier4th
align=left 2022 Abu Dhabi7th

UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup

Season1234RankPoints
2022MON
BRU
2
GOL
4
51670
2023DIR
2
MON
4
BRU
BAZ
51590

Personal life

From Reno, Nevada, she graduated from Edward C. Reed High School[6] and has a background in Muay Thai fighting. She lives with Kiah, her golden retriever dog in Raleigh, North Carolina.[7]

Benegas is openly gay.[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BENEGAS Perris . 2024 . Olympics.com . 7 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Perris Benegas BMX Freestyle Athlete. 2021-06-08. USA Cycling. en-US.
  3. Web site: Perris Benegas. 2021-06-08. The Bloom BMX. en-US.
  4. Web site: 2021-06-10. U.S. Olympic cycling roster set with road, indoor, BMX, mountain teams. 2021-06-17. OlympicTalk NBC Sports. en-US.
  5. Web site: Paris 2024 Olympics: American Perris Benegas Takes Silver In Women's BMX Freestyle. Forbes. 1 August 2024. Michelle. Bruton. 31 July 2024.
  6. News: Krajewski . Jim . Northern Nevada athletes competing at Paris Olympics; here's how to watch . 8 August 2024 . . July 23, 2024.
  7. Web site: Join Vans Family: Earn Points, Get Rewards. 2021-06-08. www.vans.co.uk.
  8. Web site: 2021-05-14. Perris Benegas Comes Out. 2021-06-08. BMX UNION. en-US.
  9. Web site: AS. Diario. Deportes, todas las noticias y la actualidad. 2021-06-08. AS.com. es.