Kevin robinson bmx x games

The millions watching on television, including Robin Robinson, Kevin's wife of nine years, didn't see Kevin gesture to the crowd, reassuring them that he was both awake and able to move his limbs. I'm really tired of getting those calls. Kevin Robinson retrospective. At age 41 and following a string of complex injuries and 22 years as a professional, Robinson will trade his spot in the contest finals for a spot in the announcer's booth. After competing in 17 X Games, winning four gold medals, undergoing 45 surgeries and, most importantly, becoming a dad to Shaye, 8, Kevin Jr.

I don't want to do that to my family again. They need a dad more than I need another medal. After his fall in Foz, Robinson was diagnosed with a concussion and released from the hospital after his neck X-rays and a head CT scan came back negative. He's had concussions before -- too many to count -- but over the past few years, he's been thinking about his future and wondering how long his brain and his body can hold up against the constant beating.

He talks with his friends who play in the NFL about the long-term effects of concussions, not to mention the early aging effects of extreme wear and tear on the human body. In May , Robinson lost one of his best friends, NFL linebacker Junior Seau, to suicide just two years after he retired from football.

And while Robinson continues to ride contests and demos with the enthusiasm of athletes half his age, at home he struggles just to get out of bed. As a retirement gift to himself, he scheduled hip replacement surgery for the end of August. What about now? They don't see the daily struggles. He wants to play with the kids, but he can't walk around the mall, can't throw a ball and run after it or go for a walk after dinner.

You can see on his face that every step is a chore. It's painful for me to watch. But as painful as the injuries, surgeries and months of rehab have been, Robinson knew what might hurt even more: walking away from the sport he loves, from the challenge of competition and pushing his body and bike to do things no one has done before, and from the camaraderie of standing on the deck of a vert ramp or the Big Air roll-in surrounded by his friends and peers.

So, slowly, he and Robin began to prepare for this day together, knowing it would come whether they prepared for it or not. We're both really motivated, and we'd seen a few of his friends get injured and their careers end before they knew what they would do next," Robin says.

We had to replace a passion with a passion. R obinson knew he couldn't simply unzip from himself and step into a new life the day after retiring from competition if he didn't first find a new passion to step into. Several years ago he began motivational speaking and found that sharing his experiences and struggles with everyone from kids to corporate CEOs to Navy SEALs lights him up in the same way competition does. And it's a heck of a lot easier on his body.

That same year, he and Robin launched a padded-clothing company called Grindz, began sponsoring young athletes and founded a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to families in Rhode Island's East Bay to help their children become involved and stay active in sports. In , the Robinsons began work on an indoor-outdoor skatepark and action sports facility that will blend sports training with motivational speaking and corporate events.

He didn't need to do this. And he wasn't doing it for attention or social media points. He did it because he cared, and because he knew and genuinely believed in his heart that he could positively impact every single person he encountered in life. That impact remains with every person he did encounter, and that power will continue to extend from him through us and to others. Kevin Robinson believed in his heart that he could positively impact every single person he encountered in life.

Learn more. X Games Aspen Schedule Announcement. X Games Aspen Returns Jan. X Games Aspen Is Back! Highlight Reel: X Games Aspen Best of Skateboarding: X Games Best of Moto X: X Games Highlight Reel: X Games Real Street Real BMX Real MTB Recent social media posts reveal the many BMX riders grateful for the role K-Rob played in their careers and their personal lives, and consistently remind us of his boundless heart and infectious, ever-present smile.

Robinson joined the Red Bull family in and left an indelible mark and unforgettable influence. Our thoughts are now with Robin, their three children and the rest of his friends and family. Anthony Napolitan, pro BMX rider. At the time I was intimidated because he was one of the big pros. After talking to him for a couple minutes I realized he was a lot nicer than any pro I've ever met — just a straight-up, down-to-earth person.

At the end of my stay at Woodward my dad let me know that Red Bull wanted to flow me product. I later found out that Kevin was the one who set it all up.

I could have never thanked him enough for that opportunity. It just goes to show that not only was he passionate about growing BMX, but he was also such a caring and giving person.