BMX has long been at the cutting-edge of the cycling world. Young athlete Shanaze Reade is a cycling force to be reckoned with. She made her name in BMX racing and has won numerous cycling medals, including gold at the World BMX Championships in 2008, 2007 and 2006, and gold alongside Victoria Pendelton in the Team Sprint at the World Track Championships. Now she has her sights set on the Olympics in 2012. HotCourses finds out what makes her tick…

Q. How did you get into BMX racing?
I’ve always had a real passion for sport and a big competitive streak. Throughout my early school life I enjoyed track and field and had success at events like the 100-metre sprint. However, I was introduced to BMX at the age of 10 by my cousins who started cycling to the local track. I hired a bike for £1 and gave it a go and fell in love with it.

However, what was very important at this stage was having a mentor and I had this in the shape of a man called Bob Field, a local hero that almost single-handedly ran competitions for kids in the region and offered them advice. He has since passed away, but his inspiration will never leave me and I owe him so much. Then it was my own determination that took over, in terms of training whenever I could and raising the money to compete. It was never easy, but following your dreams never is. It’s about reacting in the same manner to both good and bad times and constantly learning. Through dedication and determination, anything is possible.

Q. What keeps you motivated Shanaze?
The realisation of how lucky I am to be blessed with a talent that gives me the opportunity to do the thing I love for a living. I believe the minute an athlete refuses to realise this, he or she really needs to readdress their outlook.
Having this opportunity gives me a personal duty to do the very best I can to not only reach personal goals, but also to bring smiles to the faces of supporters and hopefully inspire them to take up sport.

Q. In 2007, you won your first title in the world track cycling championships when you teamed up with Victoria Pendleton for the women’s team sprint. How did that feel?
It felt really fantastic as I had not done hardly any training on the track at the time and only had a little race experience. However, with people like Vicky and Sir Chris involved in British cycling, I am very lucky to have the very best to learn from.

Q. You’re currently in training for the world championships. What kind of day-to-day training does that involve?
I train six times a week; one day may be a morning skills session at the BMX track followed by an afternoon of sprints. I also have to include gym sessions in my training, which I often do twice a week. Before the World Championships I just need to maintain bike skills, fitness and speed. For fitness I tend to do an hour road cycle or a turbo session.

Q. Beijing was a disappointment for you. How do you recover emotionally and physically when things don’t go to plan?
Beijing was of course a disappointment, but it’s about first having the perspective to place it in context and second deciding how you are going to react to it. BMX is a high-risk discipline and falls are unfortunately part of it. After
the initial disappointment I realised I had done my very best but it wasn’t my day. I honestly believe that it is experiences like Beijing that shape a winning desire and, happening at such a young age, it has made me so much stronger.

Q. You have lots of support here in the UK. How are you preparing for the London Olympics in 2012?
Like all domestic athletes, London 2012 is a huge focus for me. British cycling under Dave Brailsford is the very best atmosphere for long-term preparation. As I plan to compete in both track and BMX disciplines, it’s about balancing preparation and tailoring it to peak in 2012. Although I can’t wait for the Games, it is important to work to short-term goals to keep focus and not jump ahead, as I realise there is still a lot of work to be done before I put myself in the starting gate for that first race. The support I get when I race both here and abroad means so much and I am really thankful for it. I can only imagine what the atmosphere will be like around the British athletes at 2012! It will be something we will never forget.

Q. What do you hope to achieve in the next year?
I have a series of short-term goals such as the BMX World Championships happening in South Africa at the end of July and a series of UCI events following this. I’m also keeping my track commitments going, with an additional focus on the World Track Championships in Holland in March 2011. Then there are obviously the long-term goals, which involve the Olympics and other personal achievements.

Q. You must have a demanding schedule. What do you do to relax?
As my mind is constantly on training it’s very difficult to switch off. It’s my life, not just a job. I unwind by seeing friends and family; I have a little brother who is getting into racing BMX and a sister who is eight. I have bought a house, so redecorating that takes a lot of my time up. I also love watching soaps, so that’s definitely something that takes my mind off training.

Q. Do you have any advice for aspiring young sportsmen and women who might be reading this?
You need determination and focus. It’s never easy and you may not reach the top but having the chance is enough to follow your dream. Putting 110% into training or competing is something that you will never regret no matter where it takes you. Sport is so much more than achievement at the highest level.

It’s about enjoyment and learning things about yourself that you can apply to other areas of life. Balance your life with other commitments like education, but throw yourself into training when you can and find a local club or mentor that can help you. There are numerous clubs out there that are excellent in supporting a huge number of sports. Just walk through the door or step onto the track, get involved and give it your all – you’ll never regret it!