Paola Reis
A powerhouse Brazilian rider who pedaled from national tracks to the Olympic stage, becoming a force in elite women's BMX racing.
Born 1999 (age 27)·Brazilian BMX rider·Birthday: August 15·Generation Z
Biography
Paola Reis attacks the BMX track with a blend of raw power and precise technique that has placed Brazil firmly on the map of women's cycling. Born in 1999, she rose through the ranks of a sport where explosive starts and fearless cornering are currency. Her talent propelled her onto the world cup circuit, where she consistently challenged the established hierarchy, landing on podiums and announcing her as a contender. The pinnacle of her early career was representing Brazil at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a testament to her years of dedicated training. Beyond the global stage, she has been a dominant figure in continental competitions, regularly vying for gold at the Pan American Championships and cementing her status as a leading athlete from South America.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Paola was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paola Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Paola's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Competed for Brazil in women's BMX racing at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
- Achieved multiple podium finishes in UCI BMX Supercross World Cup events.
- Won the gold medal in the women's elite race at the 2021 Pan American BMX Championships.
Did You Know?
She started racing BMX at a very young age.
She has competed in both cruiser class and standard 20-inch BMX bikes.
Her social media often showcases her intense training regimen and track previews.
“The gate drops, and for forty seconds there is only the line and the pedals.”
