What happened to Adolf Silva? Spanish Freestyle Mountain Biker Injured in Bike Accident

Spanish freestyle mountain biker Adolf Silva was seriously injured during the Red Bull Rampage event held at Zion National Park, Utah, on Sunday, October 19. The 28-year-old BMX rider was performing his second run of the day when he attempted a double backflip off a ledge but failed to complete the rotation.

According to reports, Silva’s front wheel struck the ground upon landing, causing him to be violently thrown from his bike. He subsequently hit his head and tumbled down the slope. Emergency responders quickly attended to Silva, who was placed on a stretcher and airlifted to a nearby hospital via helicopter.

Red Bull USA issued a statement confirming that roughly 30 minutes after the accident, Silva was “alert, conscious and talking to his loved ones,” according to The Independent.

The incident sparked an outpouring of concern and support on social media, with fans expressing their shock and wishing Silva a swift recovery. Many observers also criticized the sport’s scoring system, which they say pressures riders into attempting dangerous tricks.

One fan on X commented, “Praying for Adolf Silva, man. That was one of the worst slams I have seen in action sports.” Others highlighted the inherent risks of extreme mountain biking and called for reforms in event judging and safety measures.

A supporter wrote, “Love extreme sports but scenes like Adolf Silva’s crash today are sobering. RedBull Rampage is insanely dangerous.” Another user questioned whether Red Bull would reconsider the event’s direction, stating, “At some point is @redbull going to step in and turn this back into a style/flow big mountain free ride event or are we just going to keep letting this go until someone dies?”

Adolf Silva, originally from Barcelona, Spain, began riding dirt bikes at the age of seven. He earned recognition after performing a double flip for Georg Fechter of Masters of Dirt at age 16, which launched his career in professional freestyle mountain biking. Since his debut in 2018, Silva has won accolades such as the People’s Choice Award and titles at Red Bull Rampage and Crankworx events, earning him the nickname ‘Mountain Bike Wonder.’