BMX: 'Anything less than gold is failing'

New Zealand's leading BMX riders have a single focus entering the start of their Olympic competition.

The men's and women's events get underway in London tonight, with seeding runs to determine the positions for the quarterfinal and semifinal motos.

Marc Willers says he won't be satisfied if he doesn't finish first.

"I feel like this track's built for me - the first straight and into the tight second straight, so definitely only here for one position."

Sarah Walker says if she performs to her capabilities she should win gold.

"To me, anything less than gold is failing, but I've learnt how to fail as well. I'm okay with it and I'm not afraid of it, and I think that's what I was - I was afraid of failing last time."

She says she's done a lot of work with Hamilton-based sports psychologist David Galbraith over the last two years.

"He's also the sports psych for the Chiefs and the Magic so he knows what he's doing and I mean, that in itself gives a lot of confidence because they have performed as well and under that huge pressure."

Kurt Pickard is the third member of the team but isn't expected to challenge for the medals in his first Olympics.

The BMX competition is underway at 3am NZT.

Photo: Marc Willers and Sarah Walker (Photosport)