Following the successful debut of BMX freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics, British Cycling has outlined its plans to develop the sport from the grassroots up.
FEW could fail to be impressed by Team GB’s BMX performance in Tokyo this summer, in particular the stunning debut of BMX freestyle in which Charlotte Worthington took gold and Declan Brooks won bronze.
Following its success, British Cycling has established a BMX freestyle commission including expertise across the discipline to help the national governing body’s development of the sport.
As part of its plans, British Cycling will work with existing organisers, facilities and partners to develop a national competition structure from 2022 and create education and training opportunities for coaches, judges and event organisers. It will establish an inclusive talent pathway, introducing a network of talent development centres in 2022 linked to facilities, and will engage with the BMX freestyle community to support grassroots development and grow awareness of how young people and adults can get involved. It will also work in partnership with facilities to encourage more females to have a go and ensure access for local communities.
Thanks to the Places to Ride fund, in partnership with Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, more than £1m has already been invested in facilities across five sites to lay the foundations for this work.
The investments include a mix of facilities to support participation, talent development and events, including Asylum Skatepark in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Adrenaline Alley in Corby, Junction 4 Skatepark in Darwen, an Olympic standard Freestyle Park and modular ramps to support demonstration and taster events. A long-term home for the Olympic standard park used by Worthington and Brooks will be decided in the coming months, working with the BMX Freestyle Commission with the aim of supporting participation, talent development and event activity.
Dani Every, British Cycling’s delivery director, said the success of BMX freestyle at the Olympics had captured the attention of the country.
“Our plans are aimed at producing medallists of the future but – just as importantly – also encouraging sustainable growth of BMX freestyle at community level and providing, for the first time, a structure of national competition. BMX freestyle, as well as BMX racing, are vitally important to British Cycling as we work to fulfil our commitment to make cycling more accessible and more relevant to more people in more communities across the country.”
The new BMX freestyle committee will work with British Cycling to develop a long-term strategy aimed at building, supporting and growing interest across all aspects of BMX freestyle including park, street, dirt, vert and flatland. Meeting monthly, it will review British Cycling’s progress, advise on future direction and make recommendations to British Cycling board.
