British BMX freestyle continues to dominate the international scene. At the 2024 European Championships in Cadenazzo, Switzerland, the team once again showcased its superiority with standout performances. Victories from Kieran Reilly in the men’s event and Sasha Pardoe in the women’s, combined with promising results from Jude Jones and Elsa Rendall Todd, highlight the rise of Britain’s next generation of talent.
Kieran Reilly, the Master of BMX at 23
Already renowned for landing the world’s first triple flair, Kieran Reilly once again stamped his authority on the men’s competition. A reigning world champion and Olympic silver medallist, Reilly, at just 23, is no longer just a rising star, he’s a legend in the making. His performance in Cadenazzo was marked by high-risk trick choices that, as so often, paid off. He claimed the title with a score of 93.23 points, edging out France’s Anthony Jeanjean (92.63) by just half a point and finishing two points ahead of his fellow Brit Jude Jones (91.33). His victory in Switzerland is yet another reminder that he has the potential to leave a lasting legacy in the sport.
Sasha Pardoe, an 18-Year-Old Sensation
Becoming European champion at just 18 is no small feat. A few months ago, Pardoe wasn’t part of the Olympic line-up in Paris, where four European riders made up the twelve-woman field. In Switzerland, she left all of them trailing behind, including Czech rider Iveta Miculyčová, who had finished sixth in Paris. Pardoe beat her by nearly three points, thanks to smooth, fluid runs that maintained speed and demonstrated remarkable technical control for someone so early in their career. This gold medal marks the beginning of what could be a glittering journey leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where she is sure to be one of the favourites. While the world’s top riders currently hail from other continents, her performance in Cadenazzo would have placed her fourth at the Olympics, less than a point off the podium.
Jude Jones and Elsa Rendall Todd: Future Stars in the Making
Jude Jones, 22, secured a podium finish in the men’s event, taking third place and confirming his steady rise. His achievement is all the more impressive considering the two riders ahead of him, Reilly and Jeanjean, are the undisputed best in the world, boasting a combined tally of five European titles, one world title, and two Olympic medals in this still-young discipline.
Meanwhile, the youngest member of the squad, 16-year-old Elsa Rendall Todd, turned heads with a mature performance well beyond her years. Finishing fourth in the women’s event, she missed out on a podium spot by just 0.05 points to Tokyo 2020 Olympic medallist Nikita Ducarroz. Todd has already proven she can compete with Europe’s best, but her future may not lie solely in freestyle BMX, she is also a high-level BMX racing rider, as shown by her 2023 world title in the 13-16 category.
A Legacy of Olympic Success
British BMX freestyle’s dominance extends beyond recent victories. Since the sport’s Olympic debut in Tokyo 2021, where Charlotte Worthington won gold in the women’s event and Declan Brooks took bronze in the men’s, Team GB has cemented itself as arguably the leading nation in the discipline. At Paris 2024, Reilly reinforced this status with a controversial silver medal (many believed his run was superior to Argentina’s José Torres), further solidifying Britain’s place at the top.
With Reilly expected to keep winning and the likes of Pardoe, Jones, and Todd maturing into world-class competitors, Team GB could be a major force at the Los Angeles Games. However, in a rapidly evolving discipline where new talent constantly emerges, nothing is guaranteed. The road to 2028 promises to be as unpredictable as it is exciting.
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