From an eight-year-old prodigy to seasoned teenage stars, 10 of Australia\u2019s finest amateur BMX riders are descending on Brisbane to take on the world. <\/p>\n
Parents and coaches open up about the brutal training, the eye-watering costs, and the ultimate family sacrifices behind our next generation of green-hand-gold champions.<\/p>\n
More than 2100 Challenge and Masters riders from 41 nations will descend on the Brisbane BMX Centre from Wednesday to Saturday, with competitors aged from just eight years old through to 70 battling for coveted rainbow jerseys across the 20-inch and Cruiser categories.<\/p>\n
Australia will field the largest contingent with 969 riders on the start list, while powerhouse BMX nations including the United States, Colombia, France, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and Great Britain will also be strongly represented.<\/p>\n
Fans were denied the chance to see the world\u2019s elite crowned after Sunday\u2019s finals were cancelled because of dangerous weather.<\/p>\n
But the Challenge and Masters competition will provide a glimpse of the next generation of stars chasing world titles and potentially put them on the path to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
Here are the young Australian talents to watch as the Challenge and Masters competition gets underway.<\/p>\n
Mackenzie Crocker (Brisbane, QLD)<\/p>\n
Brisbane rider Mackenzie Crocker is hoping home-track advantage can help settle the nerves as she prepares to make her UCI BMX World Championships debut in the Women\u2019s 17-24 and same age group cruiser division.<\/p>\n
Unlike many of her rivals, Crocker knows every jump and corner of the Brisbane BMX Centre, where she trains up to three times a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s actually helped with the nerves,\u201d Crocker said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf it was a different track, I\u2019d probably be a lot more nervous than I am now.\u201d<\/p>\n
BMX has been part of Crocker\u2019s life since she was four, after her father introduced the family to the sport. <\/p>\n
She first rode a well-worn hand-me-down Redline bike before developing a love for racing alongside her older brother.<\/p>\n
The family connection also sparked a competitive streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI very much like racing my brother when I beat him,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n
After drifting in and out of the sport during her childhood, Crocker recommitted to BMX at 13 and began taking racing more seriously. But despite making her world championships debut, the 17-24 rider insists the experience is about more than results.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really just want to have fun and enjoy it. It\u2019s my first world, so I just want to make sure I enjoy it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Away from the racing, Crocker has embraced the international atmosphere of the championships, saying one of the highlights has been meeting riders from around the world and sharing in the unique community that makes BMX unlike any other sport.<\/p>\n
1. Charlie Byrne (Illawara, NSW)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Southlake \/ Illawarra BMX Club<\/p>\n
Seven-year-old BMX prodigy Charlie Byrne is chasing a coveted World Plate in the Under-8 division at the upcoming World Championships. <\/p>\n
Hailing from the Illawarra region of New South Wales, the South Lake local has been riding since he was just two-years-old. In his first competitive year, his dedication involves serious travel. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been up here for Oceanos earlier in the year as well, and he rode the national round then. But yeah, he goes to most of the tracks,\u201d his mother Alice said. <\/p>\n
What does Charlie love most? \u201cTaking new risks and \u2026 pushing myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
2. Ace Cohen (Illawara, NSW)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Southlake \/ Illawarra BMX Club<\/p>\n
Ace Cohen, Australia\u2019s talented Under-8 BMX number two has been riding the BMX bike since a two-year-old kid.<\/p>\n
Cohen has an immense love to ride bikes and his drive to \u201cpush myself to the next level,\u201d has made him the top levels of U8 racing.<\/p>\n
He idolises Saya Sakakibara and this young NSW rider won\u2019t settle for second place; he boldly declares, \u201cI\u2019ve ever since I\u2019ve just like dreamt to be world number \u2026 one.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Remy Sessa (Florida, USA)<\/p>\n
Florida BMX prodigy Remy Sessa is determined to defend her Girls 11 world title after overcoming an eventful trip to Australia. <\/p>\n
Despite arriving as the world No. 1 following victories at the Dixie Nationals and Derby City Nationals, Sessa\u2019s preparations were disrupted when she accidentally left her helmet at the airport and her bike was delayed by two days.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been some highs and lows,\u201d Sessa said. \u201cI kind of forgot my helmet at the airport and my bike didn\u2019t come in until two days later.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fortunately, a friend loaned her a bike, allowing the young American to continue training as she chases back-to-back UCI BMX World Championship crowns.<\/p>\n
4. Charlie Kalm (Ballarat, VIC)<\/p>\n
BMX Club :Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s Charlie Kalm will line up in the Under-13 boys division at the UCI BMX World Championships after overcoming the crash that almost drove him away from the sport.<\/p>\n
Discovered at a local skate park as a three-year-old, Kalm\u2019s rapid rise was halted at age seven when a heavy fall while leading a major race left him shaken and questioning whether he wanted to ride again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just a really scary crash,\u201d Kalm said. \u201cI just didn\u2019t really feel motivated to ride anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inspired by older Australian riders, including U-23 world champion Josh Jolly, Kalm rediscovered his passion, qualified for the world titles at Shepparton and now heads to the biggest event of his young career.<\/p>\n
\u201cMainly just to become better than I was before and learn new things,\u201d he said of his goals for the championships.<\/p>\n
5. Mikayla Thornber (Kwinana, WA)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Southern Districts BMX Club<\/p>\n
Kwinana BMX rider Mikayla Thornber is set to make her return to the world stage in the Under-14 girls and Girls 13-14 cruiser divisions after overcoming a broken collarbone that threatened to end her season.<\/p>\n
Introduced to BMX by her father at the age of six, Thornber\u2019s campaign came to a crashing halt in January when she was involved in a heavy fall at the Hills BMX Tri Series.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got caught on someone\u2019s wheel and I went over and broke my collarbone,\u201d Thornber said.<\/p>\n
The Western Australian spent more than six weeks on the sidelines before receiving medical clearance. She had just five club nights and two training sessions to prepare before qualifying for the world championships at Shepparton.<\/p>\n
While Thornber admits she is \u201ca little nervous\u201d heading into her first major event since the injury, the 13-year-old is keeping things in perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to ride, make new friends and have fun,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
6. Oakland Eli Tracy (Penrith, NSW)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Penrith BMX Club<\/p>\n
Penrith young gun Oakland Eli Tracy has overcome a broken arm to earn his place at the UCI BMX World Championships in U8 boys category, with the New South Wales rider refusing to let the injury derail his dream.<\/p>\n
Introduced to BMX by his parents, Tracy has developed into one of Australia\u2019s promising young riders, driven by a love of racing competitors from around the world.<\/p>\n
His preparations for the world titles were thrown into doubt after he broke his left arm just 10 weeks ago, but the setback only strengthened his resolve.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used it as motivation to come back at a higher level so I could be quicker and healthier,\u201d Tracy said.<\/p>\n
Now fully fit, the Penrith rider heads into the championships feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as he prepares to test himself against the world\u2019s best, grateful for the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n
7. Madison Grace (Melbourne, VIC)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Park Orchards BMX Club<\/p>\n
Victorian teenager Madison Grace is ready to test herself against the world\u2019s best after qualifying for the Girls 16 division at the UCI BMX World Championships.<\/p>\n
Grace\u2019s BMX journey has taken plenty of turns. Originally from Wangaratta, she later lived in Darwin before settling in Melbourne, where she reignited her passion for the sport after the COVID-19 lockdowns.<\/p>\n
Having first taken up BMX in 2015, Grace stepped away from racing following the interstate move before returning to the track. She now trains at Park Orchards BMX Club and regularly travels to Shepparton to ride on the national high-performance track.<\/p>\n
Her hard work paid off when she fought her way into the top 16 at the Australian Championships, securing qualification for the world titles.<\/p>\n
Grace said she was \u201ca bit nervous but excited\u201d to represent Australia on the biggest stage, while crediting the support of her sponsors and the BMX community throughout her journey.<\/p>\n
The 16-year-old also named Olympic champion Saya Sakakibara as one of her sporting inspirations, having previously met the Australian star, and said the best part of BMX was simply being able to ride.<\/p>\n
8. Sophie Barrett (Bundaberg, QLD)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Bundaberg BMX Club<\/p>\n
Queensland teenager Sophie Rose Barrett is back on the world stage, with the Girls 13 rider chasing another strong performance after growing up around the sport she first took up as a two-year-old.<\/p>\n
Introduced to BMX by her father, Barrett has become a regular international competitor, having raced in the Girls 11 division at the World Championships in the United States before stepping up to Girls 12 last year and Girls 13 this season.<\/p>\n
While Barrett loves the adrenaline of racing, she says the friendships she\u2019s made through BMX are just as important as the competition.<\/p>\n
The young Queenslander credits coaches Jesse Asmus, Teya Rufus and Zack Holland as major influences on her development, describing them as role models who have helped shape her career.<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes, her father has played an equally important role, acting as chauffeur, mechanic and chief financier.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe cleans and fixes my bike… he has been very supportive of me,\u201d Barrett said.<\/p>\n
Her father has supported her every step of the way, travelling across Queensland to different tracks to help develop her skills and nurture a passion that has taken her to multiple BMX World Championships.<\/p>\n
9. Ethan Dowse (Frankston, VIC)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Ballarat Sebastopol BMX Club<\/p>\n
Victorian teenager Ethan Andrew is set to make his UCI BMX World Championships debut in the Boys 15 division, with a chance encounter with his sporting idol helping fuel his passion for the sport.<\/p>\n
Andrew\u2019s BMX journey began on a brand-new GT Junior bike and has since grown into a world championship opportunity, where he is eager to test himself against the best young riders on the planet.<\/p>\n
One of his biggest inspirations is former Australian Olympian Bodi Turner, whom he admires not only for his achievements on the track but for the way he welcomes and encourages young riders.<\/p>\n
In an unlikely twist, Andrew first met Turner when the former Olympian, who also works as a tradesman, was hired to install the heating system at his family\u2019s home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was actually pretty cool. An Olympian got to come into my room,\u201d Andrew said.<\/p>\n
Now preparing for the biggest race of his young career, Andrew is embracing the challenge of competing against international rivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new step in my BMX career,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
10. Luke Patroni (Newcastle, NSW)<\/p>\n
BMX Club: Lake Macquarie BMX Club<\/p>\n
Luke is set for another UCI BMX World Championships campaign, with the young Australian continuing a journey that began after spotting another child riding mini wheelers at daycare.<\/p>\n
Introduced to the sport on a balance bike at the age of three, Luke quickly developed a passion for BMX, drawn by its speed and intensity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like it because it\u2019s fast and quick,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His rapid progression saw him compete at his first BMX World Championships in Belgium when he was just seven or eight years old, beginning an international career that has taken him around the globe.<\/p>\n
Luke credits his parents for making that journey possible, supporting him through countless competitions across Australia and overseas.<\/p>\n
Despite his success on two wheels, the youngster hasn\u2019t ruled out one day following in his father\u2019s footsteps into motorsport, with car racing still a future ambition.<\/p>\n
ELITE RACERS:<\/p>\n
Queensland has never had a better chance to announce its next generation of BMX stars.<\/p>\n