Gometh surged to claim the BMX gold as expected, while Phutthaphum also stood out by securing the silver medal.
Gometh Sukprasert delivered an outstanding performance, posting the best time to win the BMX Time Trial gold at the 33rd SEA Games as anticipated. Meanwhile, Phutthaphum Nakpan also impressed by earning the silver medal.
The BMX cycling competition at the 33rd SEA Games took place at Kamol Sports Park on Suwinthawong Road, Nong Chok District, Bangkok, on 12 December. The event featured one gold medal in the Time Trial category. It was attended by General Decha Hemkrasri, deputy chairman of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and president of the Cycling Association of Thailand under the Royal Patronage, along with the association's executive committee and many Thai cycling fans who came to support the athletes.
In the BMX Time Trial, each athlete completed two timed runs, with their best time counting. The fastest rider would win the gold medal. Seven competitors from five countries participated, with two Thai riders: Sergeant Gometh Sukprasert, a three-time Asian champion, and Mr. Phutthaphum Nakpan, the 2025 Asian youth men's champion.
The results showed Gometh did not disappoint the thousands of fans at the venue, clocking the best time of 34.526 seconds to claim gold as expected, successfully defending his title after winning gold in this event at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019. Phutthaphum also performed well, finishing with 35.568 seconds to earn his first SEA Games silver medal. The bronze went to Tatrik Bren Koo from the Philippines, who trained at the World Cycling Center in Switzerland, with a time of 36.618 seconds. On the first day, the Thai BMX team secured one gold and one silver medal.
After the competition, General Decha said both Gometh and Phutthaphum performed well with close finishing times. The Cycling Association's goal was to win two gold medals; so far, they had earned one gold and one silver. He thanked the coaching staff for their coordinated work. One gold medal remained in the BMX racing event. Regarding the national anthem protocol during the medal ceremony, which had become a topic of discussion because the event organizers had athletes stand facing an LED screen with their backs to the audience, General Decha—being a military man—prepared by bringing the association's electric flagpole to raise the national flag alongside the anthem on the LED screen. This method, used previously in Asian cycling championships, resulted in a dignified and honorable presentation.
Gometh said he was very happy to win the gold medal. Before the race, he felt considerable pressure as the defending champion and as a representative of the host country. Many cycling fans came to cheer at Kamol Sports Park. He succeeded in winning gold and set a personal best, breaking his own record. Regarding the national anthem protocol, he preferred the association's prepared flagpole method, as standing facing the LED screen meant turning their backs to the audience, while raising the flag on a pole looked more elegant.
Phutthaphum expressed great joy at winning the silver medal, marking his first SEA Games competition. He thanked General Decha Hemkrasri, president of the Cycling Association, his family for their full support, and all Thai people who cheered and encouraged him. He pledged to give his all in the remaining BMX racing event to contend for another gold medal.