Caroline Buchanan. (Photo by Getty Images)
Cycling Australia has announced its Australian National Team for the 2016 UCI BMX World Championships to be held in Colombia from May 23-29.
The Championships are a vital step on the road to Rio for Australia’s BMX athletes ahead of the BMX competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 17-19.
With 2016 signifying the tenth year Cycling Australia has delivered the BMX High Performance Program (HPP), fittingly the team features five athletes from the program.
2012 London Olympic Games silver-medallist and dual world champion Sam Willoughby (SA) headlines the men’s HPP selections, with Anthony Dean (SA) and Bodi Turner (VIC).
Fresh from her victory in the opening round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Argentina last month, Caroline Buchanan (ACT) will head to the World Championships eager to better her 2015 silver medal.
2012 Olympian Lauren Reynolds (WA) and Melinda McLeod (QLD) round out the HPP women’s selections.
“The Cycling Australia BMX High Performance Program has delivered outstanding results over the ten years of the program, with athletes rising to be household names across the world and driving significant returns back to the sport of BMX in Australia,” said Cycling Australia CEO Nicholas Green OAM.
“The team selected for Colombia is exceptionally strong, and as we build towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, I look forward to tracking their performances.”
Prior to the World Championships, the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup will continue in the Netherlands from 7-8 May.
Australian National Team for the 2016 UCI BMX World Championships to be held in Colombia from May 23-29.
ELITE MEN
Sam WILLOUGHBY (SA)
Anthony DEAN (SA)
Bodi TURNER (VIC)
Alex CAMERON (NSW)
Matthew JUSTER (NT)
Corey FRIESWYK (QLD)
Joshua CALLAN (Vic)
Kai SAKAKIBARA (NSW)
Tristyn KRONK (QLD)
ELITE WOMEN
Caroline BUCHANAN (ACT)
Lauren REYNOLDS (WA)
Melinda McLEOD (QLD)
Kirsten DELLAR (WA)
Leanna CURTIS (NSW)
Rachelle SMITH (WA)
U19 MEN
Matthew WHITE (VIC)
Joshua BOYTON (QLD)
Andrew HUGHES (NSW)
Matthew KRASEVSKIS (QLD)
James TAIT (VIC)
Hayden FLETCHER (VIC)
Joshua McLEAN (VIC)
Jye HOMBSH (QLD)
U19 WOMEN
Saya SAKAKIBARA (NSW)