I have only just learned about this myself!

BMX Racing is a speed-based competition where the faster you are, the fewer points you score.

So the rider who finishes the course first is given one point, the rider who comes in second gets two points, and so on.

The goal is to have the lowest score during the course of a competition.

Due to the number of riders in the Olympics, there’s an added bit of jeopardy: at the end of the three runs, the 12 riders with the lowest point totals automatically advance to the semi-finals, while those from 13-20 go to a last-chance qualifier.

In that qualifier, the top four finishers advance to the semis.

From that semi, the eight riders with the lowest point totals go through to the final – a single run – to compete for medals.

Whoever crosses first, wins!