Thirteen-year-old BMX rider Charley McCully has tested herself against some of the world’s best young riders, finishing 11th at the UCI BMX World Championships in Brisbane on July 18.
The Tamborine Mountain State High School student lined up against 60 riders in her age group at the championships after earning qualification through her performance at the Australian national championships.
The result marked another milestone in a BMX journey which began five years ago almost by chance while her family was travelling around Australia.
“We stayed in a caravan park next to a BMX track while we were travelling around Australia and I wanted to have a go on the track because it looked really fun,” Charley said.
“I didn’t even realise it was a sport.”
That first ride has since developed into a demanding racing schedule, with Charley competing at club, state and national level and training five to six times a week.
She said competing on the world stage brought a different challenge, with riders travelling from around the globe to Brisbane.
“It was nerve-racking, but it was cool meeting people and riding against them,” she said.
Charley said one of her favourite parts of BMX was the competitive side of racing, alongside developing her skills on the bike.
Her father Todd McCully said the sport had become a significant commitment for the entire family, with interstate trips for competitions including journeys as far as Shepparton in Victoria.
He said seeing his daughter push herself made the travel and long training nights worthwhile.
“Even outside BMX, it’s good to see her pushing herself,” he said.
“Hopefully later in life, even if it’s not BMX related, whether it’s a job or anything, it’s showing what life is about.”
Charley has already ridden alongside Australian Olympic BMX champion Saya Sakakibara, who she identified as an inspiration.
“I want to be just like Saya and compete in the Olympics,” Charley said.
“That’d be really cool.”
With the world championships held annually, the family is now looking towards the possibility of Charley qualifying for next year’s event overseas.
