Lake County Gazette

Felicia Stancil never felt alone whenever she took to the track at the Tokyo Olympics for the BMX racing events.

 And even after the Lake Villa resident fell just short of earning a medal in Friday’s 400-meter finals, she could still feel the love.

The woman known as Flyin’ Felicia began cycling at age 4 after being introduced to the sport by her father, Jamie, a former professional BMX racer. Just seconds after crossing the finish line in Tokyo in fourth place, the 26-year-old Stancil was fielding a call from her father where he assured her of how proud of her he was.

Stancil tried to take it all in stride.

“It’s a bit little mixed emotions,” she told the Chicago Tribune. “I definitely wanted to win a medal for my country, but this is my first Olympics and I guess it’s just going to fuel the fire more.”

As for her father, Stancil said the two have come to bond over the sport. That advantage made it easier for the Grayslake North High grad to already be planning her next big ride.

Stancil said she plans to compete in next month’s world championships. She added she planned to hang around in Tokyo long enough for the next Olympic cycle, participating in the 2-year qualifying process that begins next year.

“Obviously it’s a huge honor to represent your country at the Olympics,” she said. “I just want to keep working hard to represent it better.”

Though BMX training has only been an Olympic sport since 2008 this year’s team featured a record number of women, leaving Stancil with a message she wants to share with every young girl willing to listen.

"Believe in yourself," she said. "I think that was one hurdle I had to overcome growing up. Believe that I can do it if I put in the work. So yeah, just believe in yourself and you can really do anything."