My job title: Former BMX Racer for Team GB and Qualified Coach

How I got the job… I started BMX racing when I was 9 years old and I worked my way up on the rankings. I managed to get on the talent team, Olympic Development Programme (ODP) level. At the age of 18 I moved to Manchester and lived here ever since. THE BMX world is quite small. If you are dedicated, you put in the hard work and get the results then the British Cycling team will know about you. Luckily enough I worked hard and got the results I needed to get onto the team. All I have known for the last 10 years is training full time and being an athlete, but I am also a Qualified Coach and now looking for new opportunities.

My typical day… Writing programmes for my riders, walking the dog, looking for new opportunities and applying for jobs.

My most memorable moment…  in 2014, I was 21 and I managed to get a bronze medal at the Worlds Championship after not being selected for the GB Team. I went by myself and managed to come away with a bronze medal.  I also made World Cup Mains, I have flown around the world, won European Cup finals and been British Champion back to back.

The best part of my job…  I get to do what I enjoy for a living, I have travelled to lots of places and made a lot of friends.

The worst part of my job… The injuries – going into this sport you know there is going to be injuries, but it does put you back and knock your confidence slightly.

The key skills/attributes needed in your role…  Dedication, persistence, and hard work. You need to be talented but hard work overtakes talent. Enjoy what you are doing work hard as there are a lot of factors that go into BMX racing – strength, skill, mental & diet – tick every box and don’t leave any stones unturned.  

Advice for someone looking to go into something similar…  Watch some of the best riders – there is a lot of BMX racers and a lot of footage that you can watch. Try and get yourself a good coach, listen and take everything on board. You need to enjoy it and believe in yourself. Other than the skills, the power, and the hard training, you really need to believe in yourself and what you are doing to give yourself the best opportunity.

The biggest way to believe in yourself is to work hard – when you go into the race you will know you have done everything you can do to give the best performance. Get yourself in the right frame of mind by listening to certain people, podcasts, and motivational videos – these helped me at the end of my career.

If you enjoy riding or cycling, BMX is a great foundation to get started, so get involved!