Braintree BMX Beth Shriever’s Gold

For some readers the summer of 2021 would have been all about Eurovision, where musicians from across the continent performed in dazzling costumes, for others it would have been about the European Championships where an array of colourful kits took to the pitch for the beautiful game.

 

For some, though, this summer the television only served one purpose and that was to provide highlights of what is no doubt the greatest sporting competition on the face of the earth… THE OLYMPICS.

 

It may have been a behind closed door event and without spectators but the Tokyo games of 2021 were breathless, marvellous and fist-pumpingly good all the same!

 

Tokyo represented a new era in the Olympics with new sports and disciplines rightly considered worthy of the world stage such as skateboarding and BMX freestyle. The youthful success in the skateboarding has seen the sport’s popularity increase massively with the youngsters which has been marvellous to see in parks and recs across the county. The most joyous scenes at the Olympics came in one of the relatively new competitions (BMX racing has been part of the Olympic program since 2008) and has a direct link to the community of Braintree.

 

Yes, if you were lucky enough to be watching the coverage on July 30th when Beth Shriever belted her way round the track to claim gold in the BMX racing then you would have seen the celebrations that melted the internet’s often cold and nasty heart.

 

Beth, who now answers to ‘the golden girl of BMXing’, ‘BMX Beth’ or other flattering tabloid-esque names, did the country proud and after crossing that line broke down with emotion and lactic-acid filled legs only for her supportive and wonderfully affable team mate Kye Whyte (who had only a couple minutes earlier won a silver) picked her up and celebrated the win. Kye was wearing a proud brotherly smile and his joy for Beth’s achievement echoed what the millions of viewers were feeling. It was truly brilliant to see and dare I say the sporting highlight of the year.

 

If like me you were touched or entertained by that spectacle then you owe a debt to a local organisation, Braintree BMX. The racetrack and BMX club here on our doorstep was crucial in Beth’s progression as it continues to be for many young riders today. ‘BMX Beth’ was just nine years old when she saddled up a Bicycle Motocross and it was at the brilliant Braintree BMX club that she got her taste of competition. Obviously a talent from a young age and a born winner, Beth’s Olympic win is so captivating and demonstrative of her determination as funding from UK Sport was cut for female BMX riders after 2016’s Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games meaning Beth had to take on part time work to cover some of her training and travelling costs, the nature of a true champion is to never give up.

 

After Olympic success and local celebrations, it wasn’t long before Beth was back on her BMX this time competing in Netherlands at BMX World Championships, where naturally she won another gold medal. Sometimes when writing about greatness and achievement it’s tough to delegate the right adjective but I suppose ‘phenomenal’ will have to suffice for Beth’s mammoth summer of gold! The summer came to a close with an honorary doctorate from the University of East London, Britain’s favourite female BMXer said she hopes her summer showcases that people need to keep believing in their dreams.

 

Beth and Kye were keen to point out that they hope their Tokyo triumphs can inspire a generation of young BMXers. There is no better place for that next generation to learn than at the brilliant Braintree BMX who as well offering a friendly inclusive environment also churn out quite a few champions and have had a similar gold-littered summer to Beth as we’ll find out in the next issue of your CommunityAd magazine.

 

Find out more about Braintree BMX via their website or Facebook @BraintreeBMX.

Exclusives by Area

Search