Dave Mirra

It is rare that an athlete truly transcends their sport. Dave Mirra, BMX legend, has done just that. Mirra has achieved ionic status, not only in the world of BMX, but in all of action sports and has begun his assault on mainstream pop culture. But becoming the most decorated athlete in action sports was no easy feat for Dave Mirra. Despite winning more X Games Gold Medals than any other
competitor in the history of the X Games, his rise to the top has not been an easy one. But the "Miracle Boy" has made it known that riding BMX is more than a sport to him, it is truly a way of life. And one that he continues to keep on living to the fullest.

At the age of four most kids in Syracuse, New York were still playing around on their tricycles. Mirra, on the other hand, was riding the streets on his BMX bike on the tail of his older brother and by age five, he was jumping curbs and flying over dirt jumps. Five years later, he entered his first BMX race and took first place. Haro Bikes quickly recognized this young talent and Mirra landed his first sponsorship. At thirteen, he entered his first flatland BMX contest in Columbus, Ohio and placed second…to last. The defeat was tough to swallow, but Mirra wasn’t about to give up. The challenges he faced in competition, along with the disproval his teachers expressed towards his career in BMX only made his drive that much greater to succeed. The next year Mirra returned to the same contest and took first place not only in flatland, but also in vert, making him the overall champion. From that point on, Mirra became the man to watch. In1992, after graduating from high school he turned pro and overthrew Mat Hoffman as the undisputed vert champion. In 1993, Mirra was hit by a drunk driver, nearly ending his career as doctors expected the trauma to his head to prevent him from ever riding his bike again. What they didn’t realize is that Mirra had another plan in mind.

Fast forward to today. Mirra not only continues to ride, but he dominates the world of freestyle BMX as he has since turning pro in 1992. He is considered the best BMX rider of his time and one of the most respected names in action sports. He holds the record for the most X Games gold medals and is the first rider ever to pull a double back flip in competition. Holding nearly every accolade possible for a BMX or action sports athlete, Mirra has been won everything from "Freestyler of The Year" by BMX Magazine to the ESPN Action Sports and Music Award for BMX Rider of the Year in 2000. Mirra is famous for going big, getting major air and throwing down tricks you would only think possible in a video game. Speaking of which, he has his own video game series, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX, as well as signature shoe, pro model bike, action figures, trading cards, bubble gum, and the list goes on.

Mirra’s popularity goes well beyond the world of action sports. In fact, Mirra is listed as one of the top ten most recognizable names in sports today, an honor he shares with the likes of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. He hosted the popular MTV series "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" and has been a guest star on NBC’s Las Vegas, The Late Show with David Letterman, The New Tom Green Show, The Orlando Jones Show, Good Morning America and The Today Show. He has presented at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, graced the cover of EXPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated for Kids and numerous BMX magazines. The nation’s most influential pop culture magazines, such as TV Guide and Rolling Stone, have all featured Dave, and the requests keep coming.

Mirra is considered a role model and an ambassador for today’s youth market. He is a champion both on and off his bike. Creating scholarships through Woodward Camp and hosting The Dave Mirra Charity Golf Tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society are just a few of the ways that Mirra gives back to the community. He is a dear friend of the Dream Factory Foundation and donates much of his time to charity organizations.