Some of that boosted confidence was on full display at the 2015 STRIDER World Championship in Rapid City, South Dakota. The event, which took place in August 2105, brought together 240 toddler racers from six countries to compete in balance bike races.
The event also included special needs races, which featured 40 additional racers.
The championship was the culmination of STRIDER's 2015 race series, which included races in Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Utah. Racers from Japan took home the gold in the 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old heats, while a Rapid City-native won the 2-year-old division.
STRIDER has already begun planning the 2016 race series, with races planned in Salt Lake City, Utah; Spokane, Washington; Lincoln, Nebraska; Atlanta, Georgia and more to come.
The Course
1 of 18An overhead shot of the STRIDER Championship race course.
On Your Mark. Get Set. GO!
4 of 18Racers take off to start one of the many races.
Picking Up Speed
5 of 18Racers crouch to make themselves more aerodynamic as another race begins.
Go for the Gold
6 of 18Special Olympics athletes race along the course.
Water Hazard
8 of 18A racer tries to find his way through the fountain portion of the course.
Up and Down
9 of 18Racer traverse over one of the course's many obstacles.
Spinning Your Wheels
10 of 18Another racer pauses for some fun in the fountain portion of the course.
Finish Line
12 of 18A racer from Japan crosses the finish line.
On the Podium
15 of 18Special Olympics athletes celebrate on the podium after their race.
End of the Night
17 of 18All the racers and parents gather for a group photo after the day's events.
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