BMX Australia is pleased to announce the first 10 athletes who have been selected into the BMX Australia Development Academy. The academy, which was announced last week, has been introduced to provide riders (aged 14 years through to Elite for men and women), and coaches with a clear pathway and is linked directly with the BMX Australia High Performance Program providing improved continuity and communication.

“Our sport continues to evolve at a rapid rate,” BMX Australia General Manager Mark Louis said. “By investing into the development of the sport our goal is to maintain Australia’s success through developing athletes who can adapt and perform at the sports highest levels”

“Performance standards amongst athletes are a long way from where they were 5 years ago. What we are doing with the Development Academy is developing our athletes in line with what is needed to progress smoothly to the High Performance Program.

“The riders selected have shown they are talented and by nurturing them we can assist them in reaching their goals. There is a long term focus for this Development Academy; we are preparing potential athletes for the 2020 Olympics and beyond.

The selected riders are:

• Millie Reed – Victoria
• Shelby Green – Queensland
• Nathaniel Rodway – New South Wales
• Sara Jones – Queensland
• Dion Bromley – Queensland
• Dylan Scruton – Queensland
• Jake Bowe – Queensland
• Aislynn Weber – Queensland
• Jessica Lathwell – Western Australia
• Matthew White – Victoria
• Andrew Hughes – New South Wales

Sharon Willoughby (SA) has been appointed as the Coach of the Development Academy with a second coach to be appointed in the New Year. Once the appointment of the second coach has been made, Junior and Elite Male and Female athletes will be added to the squad.

Selected athletes will come together for the first time at the development camp on the City of Gold Coast which is being run in conjunction with Rounds 1&2 of the BMX National Series at Nerang.