Despite being one of the best female BMX racers in the U.S. back in 2008, Alise Post was denied a spot on the Olympic team because, at age 17, she was too young. At the time, the age minimum for an Olympic BMX racer in 2008 was 19. The young BMX star from St. Cloud, Minn., who was accustomed to racing at the sport’s top level, was forced to witness BMX’s pinnacle event from afar. To distract herself from the disappointment, Alise spread herself thin across three sports: BMX, gymnastics, and track and field, while maintaining a 4.0 grade average. Throughout her years, Alise has accomplished plenty: Multiple NAG No.1 titles in ABA 2001 ABA National No.1 Girl 2003 ABA National No.1 Girl Cruiser 2004 ABA National No.1 Girl Cruiser 2006 ABA National No.1 Woman Pro 2006 Golden Crank Rookie Pro of the Year 2007 ABA National No.1 Woman Pro Yet, the Olympic dream was still at the top of her list. Overcoming injuries and fresh competition brought new challenges to her. By the end of 2009, Post was back among the world’s best. Once she became eligible for the 2012 Olympic Games, Alise took her BMX dedication to a whole new level - training with Australia’s Sean Dwight. Upon graduating high school in 2009, Alise retired from gymnastics and track and field in order to relocate — at the invitation of USA Cycling — to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.. Although she remained busy by continuing her education as a full-time student at the University of San Diego for the 2009-10 academic year and by increasing her involvement on the BMX World Cup circuit, she saw big improvements in the beginning of 2010. As a result, she resolved to narrow her focus yet again by making the difficult decision to take a break from college and completely dedicate herself to racing. Within months of this decision, Alise claimed a place as the top-ranked American, both nationally and internationally, by taking third place at both her first Elite World Championship, and at a World Cup race on her home track in Chula Vista. A true competitor, the 5’2”, 120 lb. Post overcame yet another injury and was back on her bike in time to successfully defend her USA Cycling national championship title in the spring of 2012 and wound up making her Olympic dream come true - as she was chosen for Team USA and set to head to London. The London Olympic games has its ups and downs, as all of Minnesota and the BMX World were cheering her on. A crash in the semi KO’ed her for a second or two, and in front of the World stage, she insisted on crossing the finishline with her bike - albeit, a bit wobbly and discombobulated. It was an unfortunate way to finish off her chase for a medal - but she already has her sights set for Brazil in 2016.

At first, Brooke was completely against racing. Her parents only got her a bike so she wouldn’t feel left out when the family went to watch her brother race on their hometown BMX track in Tulare, Calif. Of course, she was only six at the time but, in a discipline where racers start as young as five, Brooke sized up the peer competition and told her parents that she wanted to try racing. Racing BMX in southern California is a bit like playing football in central Texas, the talent pool is deep and wide and the competition is fierce. The distinctions started piling up when Brooke was nine. She has consistently compiled top-3 titles in national age group rankings ever since. Her big break came in 2009 when, as a 16 year old, she scored two world titles and a national title. Brooke graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 2011 and began to focus on BMX racing full time. While she has lived under her parents’ roof, she has benefited immensely from their sustained support. They have - according to Brooke - always pushed her to be at her very best. They have also pulled double duty as her coach, which sometimes isn’t easy when the going gets rough. As a teen, Brooke has learned that the price of racing at an elite level has cost her a bit of a social life but, rather than be adrift in the life of a normal teenager, she is a determined BMX racer and she credits her parents, in part, with being where she is today. Coming just a tad short on the UCi points scale, Brooke was chosen as the back-up rider for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, and kept training and pushing her two friends and Olympic team members - Alise Post and Arielle Martin. With the Olympic games already started, and just days before they were all to leave for London, Arielle snapped a chain while practicing on the London-replica course, and suffered some serious injuries. Suddenly, Brooke was IN, and on her way to London to represent the United States. In one of the more memorable moments of the BMX event, Brooke flashed the palm of her glove to the TV cameras. Written there on the palm of her Deft family gloves was scribbled “AMV” - her tribute and salute to her OTC roommate, who was watching from a hospital bed back home in San Diego. Despite a gnarly crash in qualifying on the first day of the Olympics - a bail that was seen around the World, Crain went on to make the main event and placed 8th. When Brooke’s not training or riding her bike, she likes to hang out with a few of her close friends, play basketball, or relax at home with her family.