Jayden Archer Dies at Age 27; 1st Freestyle Motocross Rider to Do Triple Backflip

Freestyle motocross star and X Games medalist Jayden Archer, who was the first rider to ever land a triple backflip in competition, died Wednesday morning.

Per ESPN's Alyssa Roenigk, the 27-year-old Archer died while practicing the triple backflip in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia.

Nitro Circus, the action sports collective to which Archer belonged, confirmed his death.

"The Nitro Circus family is mourning the loss of Jayo Archer. Jayo was the epitome of passion, hard work & determination. He pushed what was possible on a dirt bike to heights never seen before. A positive influence to those around him. And above all else a great human being and friend to us all.Sending our thoughts and love to Jayo's family and friends.We love you mate. Ride in peace ❤️"

Decorated motorsports athlete and stunt performer Travis Pastrana, who co-found Nitro Circus, spoke with Roenigk about Archer and his legacy.

"This really hit home," Pastrana told Roenigk. "Jayo grew up in a time when action sports was at its biggest, and he always wanted to do the big stuff like the double and the triple, even though there weren't a lot of places to showcase those bigger tricks. He'd get up every morning at 4 a.m. and go to the gym before work so he could ride his dirt bike. When he came to Maryland to train, he stayed at my house and was an incredible role model to my kids. He was a great human first, a hard worker second and a bad motherf--ker third."

Archer constructed an excellent resume, highlighted by his triple back flip at the 2022 Nitro World Games in Brisbane, Australia. He performed that feat during the Best Trick competition.

Afterward, he proposed to his girlfriend, Beth King. Per Roenigk, the two were to be married this year.

Archer found his best success at the X Games this past year as well, taking bronze in the Moto X Best Trick competition at X Games California.

Archer's motocross excellence is clear, but his impact on others is even more profound based on memories of his legacy and everlasting impact.

"No one had a bigger heart or more determination than Jayo," Nitro Circus executive Ricky Melnik told Roenigk. "We called him the Incredible Hulk. He was a beast on the bike and a gentle giant off it. Watching him go through the process of learning and landing the triple flip in competition was so inspiring. He wanted to take FMX to the next level and go further than anyone had gone before."

Per ESPN, Archer had been part of Nitro Circus for over a decade and first performed in 2012. He also worked as a suspension technician and mechanic for Raceline Performance and Factory Husqvarna Racing in Australia.