Bruised, bloodied, Caluag gets feel of BMX thrills

LONDON – Danny Caluag mistimed his descent, crashed to the ground and walked away bruised, bloodied and smiling.

It’s all in a day’s work for the Fil-Am daredevil.

Meet Danny Caluag, the Philippines’ Evel Knievel.

Like para-gliders who seek the countryside each weekend to throw themselves over the nearest cliff, the 25-year-old Caluag prefers very irregular terrains with the highest elevation possible where he pushes himself three to eight meters down.

It’s the thrill of BMX riding.

The sport is the motocross for bikers, and although the course at the Olympic Park is man-made, it simulates the natural challenges of rough terrains with all the humps and table-top rides and dusty or muddy paths in between.

This is no sport for Mama’s boys. If he’s hurt, probably his mother and father, both Filipinos with roots in Bulacan, wouldn’t like to know.

Only his girlfriend Stephanie does.

‘’When he got up, carried his bike and smiled at me, I know he’s okay, said Stephanie, also a BMX rider who serves as Danny’s mechanic.

Stephanie said Danny’s pedal handler was disengaged as he biked down a ramp about eight meters high, causing him to slide for a few meters. He hit the ground as he took a sudden turn.

He skipped riding for a few more laps and decided to go back to the team vehicle to get first aid treatment at the Athletes’ Village.

“Nothing to worry about. It’s normal in BMX,” said Caluag, folding his sweater to show some purple marks on his right hand and right shoulder to Team Phl chief of mission Manny Lopez and administrative officer Arsenic Lacson as Stephanie looked on.

Since arriving last week at the Village, the 5-foot-6, 170-pound son of a Filipino emigres trained two times in Birmingham, site of the last world championship where he gained enough points to make it to the Olympics as the only Asian qualifier among 32 entries.

He’s one of three members of the 11-man Team Phl who have yet to see action almost halfway through the 14-day quadrennial event. The two others are long jumper Marestella Torres and 5000-meter bet Rene Herrera.