Athlete Spotlight: Hannah Roberts - Listen To The Olympics On iHeartRadio
If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA . To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.
Hannah Roberts, one of the most successful BMX riders, is known for her impressive track record in freestyle competitions. Born in South Bend, Indiana, and raised in Buchanan, Michigan, Roberts now resides in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She began her journey in cycling at the age of nine, introduced to the sport by her cousin, . By the age of 12, she was already competing.
Roberts has won gold medals in the freestyle park competition at five World Championships in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and a bronze in 2018. Her most recent win was particularly emotional, coming after a recovery period from a dislocated shoulder and bulging discs.
In the Tokyo Games, where BMX freestyle made its Olympic debut, Roberts won a silver medal. Despite leading all riders after the first of two runs in the final, she fell on her second and final run, resulting in a silver medal finish.
Roberts has already qualified for the Paris Games, placing fourth overall in the first contest of a two-part festival qualifier series and winning the second contest. She continues to work on her mental health, dealing with depression and anxiety, and remains open to discussing these issues.
Roberts, who will turn 23 on August 10, is looking forward to the journey leading up to the Paris Games. She is determined to enjoy the process rather than feeling like a robot going through the motions. She is willing to take risks for the sport she loves, telling NBC , "I fall like 100 times a day, and I think it's just part of the sport... I'm willing to risk it because I put everything into the sport and it means the world to me."
