Anthony Macdonald of Kamloops competed in the 2022 UCI BMX World Championships on July 28, 2022.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ David Macdonald

A young Kamloops athlete is arriving home from France in a couple of days, after competing in the 2022 UCI BMX World Championships.

Anthony Macdonald, just 17, hit the world stage for the first time and raced in the men’s 17 to 24 category in Nantes, France July 28.

“It was an incredible opportunity to grow as an athlete, I've learned a lot,” he said.

READ MORE: Kamloops teen set to race in prestigious world BMX championship in France

While Macdonald did not place in the competition or reach his goal of making it into the top 10, he is grateful for the experience and will be taking what he learned into future competitions.

He said he now has a better idea of what to expect at world level races and plans to share what he’s learned with the younger riders at home in Kamloops.

“Those guys were really fast,” he said. “Personally, I didn’t do well. I was overthinking things, not putting into play the things I’ve been taught. My mind wasn’t clear and nothing was adding up.”

Back home Macdonald is a role model for younger BMX racers.

“I really appreciate having Anthony at the track with his incredible drive and ability to do things,” said Kamloops BMX Park President and coach, Martin Young. “He is a big deal on the track and kids love seeing him ride and hit jumps. When he’s available he helps coach the kids.”

Young said he and the “BMX Family” at the track are very proud of Macdonald for putting Kamloops on the world stage.

“He started later than most at the sport and has done amazing things,” he said. “He is very receptive to his training. We don’t have riders of his age group and calibre for him to race against and it’s a disadvantage but he has powered through."

Young described Macdonald as an amazing mentor.

READ MORE: City of Kamloops auctioning off stolen, lost bikes

Anthony has been riding a bike since age three, and took up BMX riding at around age 10. He raced against 101 other BMX riders from around the world and is the youngest in his age category. He earned his spot on the Canadian Challenge BMX team by winning at the provincials last year.

UCI BMX Racing World Championships is the prestigious world championship event of bicycle motocross, often called BMX Worlds in short, and is organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale every year.

When asked what he’ll do once he gets home, Macdonald said he’s going straight back to the bike park to practise for an upcoming competition in Alberta.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2022