BMX racer Maris Strombergs has earned the nickname The Machine.The Latvian is the only man to win BMX cycling gold in the disciplines short Olympic history.In 2008, Strombergs swept through the competition from the quarterfinals. He wasnt quite as strong during the early rounds in 2012, but won the final anyway. Now 29, Strombergs will be one of the older competitors at the Rio Olympics, where the average age of a rider skews closer to the early-to-mid 20s.Strombergs does have that Olympic pedigree , though. USA Cycling BMX director Jaime Staff said Strombergs has the ability to peak toward one or two events a year.A physical specimen for sure, mentally very tough, Staff said. Hes able to switch it on when he needs to.Both the mens and womens fields figure to be as competitive as ever. Here are a few notes and other things to watch in Brazil:MEET MARIANAMariana Pajon is a star in her native Colombia after winning gold in 2012. She took the womens title in late May at the world BMX championships on a track named after her in her home country, and figures to be a top contender again in Rio.Pajon had been dealing with injuries in the months leading up to worlds that limited her typical training regimen. But Pajon can also draw on the experience of international success.She knows exactly what needs to be done to be the best, said Colombia coach German Medina.WHAT A RUSHImagine sitting on a BMX bicycle, staring down a ramp about three stories high while anxiously awaiting a signal to take off. As with horse racing, a gate prevents anyone from getting a head start. But this is no flat, oval track. Its winding, nearly quarter mile-long course with groomed dirt hills serving as bumpy obstacles. Someone could be pedaling as fast as 40 mph after clearing the starting ramp.Even the best BMX competitors in the world will have to steel themselves at the Rio Olympics. Team USA rider Alise Post compares BMX cycling to a mix of horse racing and getting in the front car of an amusement park ride.Youre in this starting gate ... and then everybody goes, said Post, a top medal contender . After that youre riding a roller coaster. Everything happens fast out there.The action sport is aimed at attracting a younger audience to the Summer Games, having been introduced in 2008 in Beijing. Post, 25, watched that competition eight years ago. She rode in London in 2012, finishing 12th.OLYMPIAN EFFORTSTwo of the top U.S. riders are bouncing back from recent injuries. Connor Fields and Brooke Crain, who each competed in London, have returned to the track, and they should have plenty of time to prepare since the BMX competition will be held toward the end of the Olympics in mid-August.Fields was the top-ranked American in the world before hurting his wrist this spring. He was cleared to start training again in mid-June, and returned to the Rio-replica track for the first time on June 27. Crain came back after five weeks away following a broken left leg. She fractured her fibula while extending the leg while trying to brace herself from a crash during a race.TEAM USAThe United States is looking for its first BMX gold and was shut out of the podium entirely in 2012. Fields and Crain were discretionary picks to the U.S. team. Post was an automatic qualifier after finishing third at worlds. On the mens side, Fields will be joined by automatic qualifiers Nic Long, who placed third at worlds; and Corben Sharrah, who won the U.S. Olympic trials. Its the strongest squad that Team USA could field, headlined by some of the top-ranked racers in the world.Probably the best team we could wish for, Staff said.OTHERS TO WATCHNiek Kimmann of the Netherlands, who won the time trials at worlds, is atop the world rankings on the mens side. Joris Daudet of France, who won the elite title, is fifth in the world. Australias Sam Willougby took silver in 2012 and remains a medal favorite. ... Australian teammate Caroline Buchanan, who took the time trials at worlds, is just 10 points behind Pajon in second place in the world rankings. Laura Smulders of the Netherlands is back after winning bronze in London.---Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAPAdidas Arkyn Boost . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Adidas Dame 4 Bape Green Camo . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. http://www.swiftrunireland.com/nmd-human-race-trail.html . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. NMD CS1 Pk City Sock . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Yeezy Powerphase White For Sale .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach.Kyle Coetzer has been named as Scotland captain, following the retirement of Preston Mommsen, for the Desert T20 tournament which will take place in the UAE during January.Coetzer, who was previously Scotland captain in 2013 , will have Con de Lange, the left-arm spinner, as his vice-captain but a full-time successor to Mommsen will not be confirmed until March.Matt Machan, the Sussex left-hander, has been ruled out of the squad due to injury while Alasdair Evans has been rested ahead of the domestic season.dddddddddddd Brad Wheal, the Hampshire seamer who made his international debut in 2016, is included among 13 namesFixtures are still to be confirmed for the event, but it is expected to feature eight of the top Associate nations. ' ' '