Achi news desk-
This spring brings a great opportunity for some active young athletes in Calgary.
Around 25 BMX riders are on track to challenge the world. They have been selected to represent Canada at the 2024 UCI BMX World Championships in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling to wear the maple leaf on your back,” said rider Daisy Kettle, 16. “It’s not something a lot of people get to say they’ve done their life.”
Calgary riders will compete alongside approximately 4,000 riders from nearly 50 countries.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
“You’re going to have riders competing from all over the world,” said BMX Calgary organizer Colin Lolacher. “From Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Britain – you name it. They’re going to be there.”
The Calgary riders who have qualified for Team Canada at the world championships range from eight to their early 20s.
“This is my first year competing at worlds,” said Carter Berry, 15. “It’s kind of crazy, because I’ve been training a lot and now I’m finally ready to go compete there, so it’s a pretty good feeling.”
Some of the riders have been training on their BMX bikes since they were four years old.
“It’s cool, how fast I’m going,” said eight-year-old Ryker Lolacher. “And then go faster and faster and faster.”
The South Carolina event runs from May 12-18.
“I think it will be a lot of fun,” said Logan Lee, 12. “I’ll have a lot of my friends there and it’ll be pretty competitive.”
Many Calgary riders train five days a week to prepare for the world championships.
“It’s definitely a male-dominated sport, so being a girl is definitely cool, and something to be proud of,” Kettle said. “I like the speed, I like the thrill of it.”
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
