Thanks to this assistance, the athlete enjoys the benefit of being close to the most important international competitions throughout the season. The Olympics are no exception. Vidaurre has been training for months to reach the top of the podium and show both his compatriots and the rest of the world what Chileans can achieve in sport.

The Best Coach

Broadly speaking, Vidaurre feels privileged, a lucky person, as his father, Cristobal, a renowned Pan American mountain biking champion, instilled his love for cycling in the early stages of his childhood. “My whole family grew up playing sports, and my father was the one who introduced me to mountain biking,” says Vidaurre. 

“I already had the motivation and wanted to become a good cyclist, but if you don’t have support, family, or contacts, you can’t do it. If it hadn’t been for my family, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Vidaurre started to stand out in all kinds of competitions early on, but his greatest achievement came in 2021 at the Under-23 World Championships held in Italy, where he won the gold medal. “It was like a revelation, it made me realise everything I could achieve,” explains the Chilean. “It was very hard to get to where I am, so when I achieved that, it opened my mind and gave me more confidence.”

However, despite his success and unique background, the athlete continues to face numerous challenges in mountain biking, which remains an emerging sport in his country with limited support available for athletes. This is where Olympic Solidarity has made a difference.

Since 2022, Vidaurre has received an Olympic Solidarity grant that has provided the financial support needed to showcase his talent and reach Paris. “Being an athlete is a 24-hour job,” he explains. “You need to think about eating properly, sleeping well, travelling efficiently. Details matter, and the only way to do it is by spending a bit more money.”

Striving for Success to Develop the Sport in Chile

The financial support from Olympic Solidarity has also led to a more significant change in Vidaurre’s daily life. He moved to Andorra to be closer to all the major mountain biking competitions, which are mostly held in Europe.

“All the competitions are in Europe, so travelling from place to place is difficult,” says Vidaurre. “You lose time, and trips are expensive. You can’t do it every month, so for me, it’s easier to train there [in Andorra]. I’m also trying to find balance. It’s a big investment in my career and what I might achieve in the future. You need to have that confidence that you’re not wasting your time or life, because moving costs money.”

With the Paris 2024 Olympics fast approaching, Vidaurre hopes to reap the rewards of his hard work and the tough decision to leave his home. However, his goals have never changed, with maximising his potential and developing the sport in Chile always at the forefront of his mind.

“I just want to show that I have the level and can compete consistently at the highest level, not just have a good race. I want to keep moving forward because I believe I can still improve, and my level can be much higher,” he says. “A big goal for me will be to bring some competitions back to South America. We’re now competing more in Brazil, so maybe in the future we can compete in Chile.”

More than 1,300 Athletes

A total of 1,319 athletes from 159 NOCs, across 26 sports, received Olympic Solidarity grants for Paris 2024. Olympic Solidarity aims to ensure that talented athletes from all backgrounds have an equal chance to reach and succeed in the Olympic arena by providing crucial funding to help finance their Olympic dreams.

With a particular focus on athletes and NOCs in greatest need, individual Olympic Solidarity grants provide athletes with financial support through monthly subsidies that contribute to their preparation and qualification for the Games, whether in their home country or at a high-level training centre elsewhere.