“When we are upside down, we see the world from a different perspective. We feel all this power, we feel like we are flying at some moments. But in extreme sports, the most important thing is to be focused, because the injuries can be always there. This is something that you really need to understand before you start. If you are not ready for that, you will not get anywhere in this world.
When I was 18 I broke my small intestine and they put me directly into life-or-death surgery. It was my first big crash, I was young, and I thought: that’s part of the game, let’s keep going! Then, when I was 23 I crashed during a show. I had just broke up with my girlfriend and had some problems with my dad, so I was not focused. I did a tiny mistake, and I crashed with my head. My lungs stopped working, and I had a cardiac arrest. I was actually dead and they put me back to life during the show. But luckily I didn’t brake anything and 1,5 months later I was back in the world championship. After that crash I changed my mind: when I put the helmet on, I’m with the bike, and personal problems are out of this.
The one crash that really hurt my feelings was when I broke my hand. Because when you are going to die, the problem is the ones who stay. But this time my hand was dislocated and perpendicular and the doctors told me that I would not be able to ride anymore. I was 24, at the top of my carrer and battling for the world championship. I had to focus on myself: “No, no! I will go back! I don’t care how much pain it is, how much work I have to do”. It took me 8 months to get back on the bike, but to feel good on the bike, it took me 2,5 years.
For me it’s always the innovation that draws me to the world champs. I got a trick that I’m the only one in the world to do. We call it an inside roll – I’m doing a front flip, but just me, the bike is staying straight. That’s actually pretty dangerous and that’s how I crashed my hand. But my goal is to go back to that trick and to battle the world champ. Life is short, today we are talking here, but tomorrow, nobody knows. I want to take all the opportunities that life can bring me.”
(Plainpalais | English original)
Note: I met Marc in September 2021 when Cirque Knie was in Geneva. Discover his world and follow his performances on his Instagram account: @marcpinyolfmx
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“When we are upside down, we see the world from a different perspective. We feel all this power, we feel like we are flying at some moments. But in extreme sports, the most important thing is to be focused, because the injuries can be always there. This is something that you really need to understand before you start. If you are not ready for that, you will not get anywhere in this world.
When I was 18 I broke my small intestine and they put me directly into life-or-death surgery. It was my first big crash, I was young, and I thought: that’s part of the game, let’s keep going! Then, when I was 23 I crashed during a show. I had just broke up with my girlfriend and had some problems with my dad, so I was not focused. I did a tiny mistake, and I crashed with my head. My lungs stopped working, and I had a cardiac arrest. I was actually dead and they put me back to life during the show. But luckily I didn’t brake anything and 1,5 months later I was back in the world championship. After that crash I changed my mind: when I put the helmet on, I’m with the bike, and personal problems are out of this.
The one crash that really hurt my feelings was when I broke my hand. Because when you are going to die, the problem is the ones who stay. But this time my hand was dislocated and perpendicular and the doctors told me that I would not be able to ride anymore. I was 24, at the top of my carrer and battling for the world championship. I had to focus on myself: “No, no! I will go back! I don’t care how much pain it is, how much work I have to do”. It took me 8 months to get back on the bike, but to feel good on the bike, it took me 2,5 years.
For me it’s always the innovation that draws me to the world champs. I got a trick that I’m the only one in the world to do. We call it an inside roll – I’m doing a front flip, but just me, the bike is staying straight. That’s actually pretty dangerous and that’s how I crashed my hand. But my goal is to go back to that trick and to battle the world champ. Life is short, today we are talking here, but tomorrow, nobody knows. I want to take all the opportunities that life can bring me.”
(Plainpalais | English original)
Note: I met Marc in September 2021 when Cirque Knie was in Geneva. Discover his world and follow his performances on his Instagram account: @marcpinyolfmx