A Never-Give-Up Attitude. The best way to describe Shanayah Howell's journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics is with an attitude of never giving up. A journey filled with unique determination and resilience.
Her dream became a reality when she received a call from Nicole Hoevertsz of COA, who delivered the big news. "Mrs. Nicole asked me to sit down because she had news for me. When she told me I had qualified for the Olympics, I went into shock and didn't know what to say or do. I just froze and thanked her for the good news and all her support. My parents were beside me. When I hung up the call, we screamed with joy and hugged each other. It was an unforgettable moment."
It took 28 years for Aruban cycling to have representation at the Olympics. Achieving this with Shanayah's qualification makes it even more significant. "It is an honor for me to have achieved this and to represent my country, Aruba. I have sacrificed a lot and worked hard since I was little for this moment."
In 2021, Shanayah faced a major setback due to changes in competition scoring, causing her to miss her chance at qualification. This experience, though difficult, strengthened her determination. "This is something that sincerely hit me very hard as a professional athlete. Mentally, it was not easy for me to accept. Thanks to God and the support of my family, Coach Pedro Estaba, and Nicole (COA), I was able to overcome this event and continue moving forward, not "giving up" on my Olympic dream."
In 2022, Shanayah suffered a severe injury, breaking her collarbone during an international competition. Her recovery was long, but she came back stronger. "The injury set me back in terms of my Olympic scoring and physical condition. I had to undergo surgery, and it took me several months to recover. At least eight months. I stayed mentally strong and got back on my bike as soon as my specialist gave me the green light. With a good training program from my trainer Pedro Estaba, I managed to get back in shape quickly and started competing again."
For her preparation for Paris, Shanayah followed intense training in Colombia to be ready for the Olympics. She focused on improving her strength, technique, and mental preparation. "I usually train twice a day, either on the track or in the gym, doing sprints and other types of training both on and off the bike. I train hard with a lot of discipline and all-out."
BMX racing is a high-intensity sport that combines speed, skill, and strategy. "BMX is an extreme sport. You don't have much time to perform, so you need to be very focused. A race lasts a maximum of 40 seconds, depending on the track. You aim to reach your maximum speed within those 40 seconds to cross the finish line first, with all the risks of crashing and hard falls. It's a sport that requires very high adrenaline levels. Dropping from the gate (start) at least 8 meters high at top speed, you need a lot of courage. This is the professional level called 'Super Cross.'"
Training Routines
Shanayah's training involves a mix of track routines, gym work, and road biking for conditioning. "Training on different types of tracks worldwide is always a big challenge for me because in Aruba, we don't have Super Cross tracks. Every track is different; some are easier than others, and some are very technical. I adapt quickly thanks to my talent and courage, and my coach Pedro Estaba travels everywhere with me to help with this."
The most challenging maneuvers in BMX racing include manualing and jumping cleanly over large obstacles. "During races, I need to be able to manual well. That's lifting the front tire up during the race to go over jumps without using brakes and at high speed. I also need to be able to jump cleanly over big obstacles to gain time and leave my competitors behind."
Shanayah's natural strength and healthy lifestyle significantly contribute to her success. "I thank God for the natural strength I have. I always eat and live healthily. My well-balanced nutrition helps me a lot in this."
Mental resilience is crucial in BMX racing. "I always stay very concentrated and positive. Dr. Edmundo from COA also helps me a lot in this area. My dad, Alan Howell, is a great help too, always helping me stay positive and mentally strong and calm, no matter what happens."
"BMX is a very extreme sport and a lot of fun. Buy a good bike, helmet, gloves, a jersey, and long BMX pants. There are various clubs you can join and train with. You can start as a hobby, and if you like it, you can go all out with the goal of becoming a professional."
Shanayah thanks God for all her talents and for letting her achieve her Olympic dream. She thanks her parents, Maroushka and Alan, for their support since she was little, her siblings, her entire family, Team Shanayah, all supporters and fans, all sponsors, her agent Mr. Miklos Petronia, Street Wise Club Mr. Joseph Everon, Velocity Cycling Team Freddy Flanders, COA, especially Nicole Hoevertsz and AWB. A special thanks to her trainer Coach Pedro Estaba.
How does BMX racing compare to other experiences?
"I don't like to compare my sport BMX to other sports. Every sport has its risks. But one thing is for sure, to ride Super Cross, you need a lot of courage, a lot of guts, and no fear."
If you could compete in any other Olympic sport just for fun, which one would it be and why?
"Soccer. I'm very good at it."
What's your go-to song to pump yourself up before a big race?
"God's Plan by Drake."
Has there been any surprising or humorous moments during a race?
"Not really, during races everything is serious, and if something happens, it's usually a hard fall or something breaking."
Do you have a lucky charm for competitions?
“No.”
The Comite Olimpico Arubano (COA) is Aruba's national sports organization and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Founded on August 21, 1985, following Aruba's attainment of autonomous status within the Dutch Kingdom, the COA became the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for Aruba. It separated from the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee (NAOC) with 14 founding sports federations, including baseball, athletics, and basketball
Recognized by the IOC since 1986, the COA's mission is to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Aruba. The first time Aruban athletes competed in the Olympics was at the Seoul Games in 1988.
COA operated from the Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadium in Oranjestad starting in 1994 and moved to a new headquarters at Vondellaan 27 in 2019. The new facility was inaugurated on March 11, 2023, after a complete renovation. The COA is affiliated with several international sports organizations, including ANOC, PANAM Sports, ODESUR, ODECABE, and CANOC.
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