Kamloops youth Anthony Mcdonald, 17, is competing in the 2022 UCI BMX World Championships in France.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/David Mcdonald
July 27, 2022 - 7:30 PM
A Kamloops teenager is overseas this week getting ready to compete in the 2022 UCI BMX World Championships.
Anthony Mcdonald, 17, and his dad have arrived in Nantes, France to prepare for the race this week.
“I'm very proud of him, he's earned every bit of this opportunity,” Dad David said.
Anthony has been riding a bike since age three, and took up BMX riding at around age 10. He is racing against 101 other BMX riders from around the world and is the youngest in his age category that includes riders up to age 24.
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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.
“I race on Thursday (July 28) and I’m really excited,” Anthony said. “This is the biggest stage in BMX and racing on it is going to be super fun, it’s crazy that I’m here.”
The young racer is getting constant messages of support from friends and fellow riders back home in Kamloops, and he doesn’t want to disappoint them.
“This is my first time and it is all new to me so I’m not sure what to expect,” he said. “I’m going to set my goals high and aim to finish in the top 10 per cent. I want to give everyone back home something to watch and to make everyone proud.”
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Anthony’s team sponsor is Rival Racing Canada which makes professional, performance driven BMX products.
Anthony has been training on the Kamloops BMX Track on Ord Road.
“He’s worked hard for this," David said. "He gets up at 5:30 every morning and either trains on his bike or goes to the Tournament Capital Centre to train with weights, then does school. He's been doing that for two years now. His drive, at this age, I think, is remarkable.”
Anthony credits the support of his family for his success in the sport.
The winner will be awarded a gold medal and a rainbow jersey while silver and bronze medals are awarded to the second and third place holders respectively.
Fans can watch the live stream of the 2022 UCI BMX World Championship online here.
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