Olympic BMX silver medallist Kye Whyte feels grassroots clubs can continue to help guide youngsters on a safe pathway through any socio-economic challenges within their communities.
Whyte, 23, grew up in south London where his father Nigel was a co-founder of the Peckham BMX Club in Burgess Park, which aims to steer young people away from gang culture and crime.
The youngest of three brothers, Whyte also went on to represent Great Britain, winning silver at the 2018 European Championship in Glasgow before finishing second in the BMX final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Whyte – who has since taken silver in the 2022 UCI BMX World Championships as well claiming the European title in Belgium last summer – recently returned to his Peckham roots to help launch the ‘Play Their Way’ campaign by the Children’s Coaching Collaborative which is funded through Sport England and the National Lottery.
Having seen first hand how such projects have helped young people develop, Whyte is in no doubt of the important impact they can have – both on and off the track.
“We have had kids and teenagers come here who are on a troubled path, but want to go on to a different path,” Whyte told the PA news agency.
“They have then become volunteer coaches, helping clean the bikes and pack them away. It is a great way to keep kids off the streets and doing something fun.”
Whyte added: “Getting kids into racing is no problem, but if they want their own bike it can be hard to finance that.
“If they can’t afford it (to buy), we can help them by lending bikes and providing helmets for training or even if they need them for racing events as well.”
In Tokyo, Whyte won Britain’s first BMX medal since the event’s introduction to the Olympic programme in 2008.
There was more success shortly afterwards at the Ariake Urban Sports Park when Beth Shriever claimed gold in the women’s race.
As Shriever collapsed in tears following her victory, a jubilant Whyte scooped his team-mate up and held her aloft in what was one of the most memorable moments of the delayed 2020 Games.
“All we want for the sport is for it to be more enjoyable and better for the future,” said Whyte.
“While we are in it, that is all we can do – to push it as much as we can.
“Having gone to the Olympics to get a medal, we have put the sport onto the map and at a bigger level.”
Whyte is working his way back to full fitness after suffering a broken shoulder blade during a BMX European Cup event in Latvia last month.
The 23-year-old is firmly focused on a return to form ahead of the World Championships in Glasgow during August.
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“I am on the mend, keeping the physio up. We will push through and get there in the end,” he said.
“If you are thinking about it (injuries), then it will probably happen, just because you are riding more wary or cautious.”
Whyte added: “When we were in Glasgow in 2018 (for the European Championships), they had grandstands up and I am pretty sure that nobody there had a clue what BMX was.
“But the crowd was absolutely mental, so I think it will be a great event again.”
On This Day in 2014 – Sir Bradley Wiggins wins time-trial gold in Spain
Sir Bradley Wiggins won gold in the men’s time trial at the Road World Championships in Spain on this day in 2014.
Wiggins clocked 56 minutes 25.52 seconds for the 47.1-kilometre route in Ponferrada to win by an emphatic margin of 26.23secs.
Germany’s Tony Martin, seeking a fourth straight world title, had to settle for silver, while Tom Dumoulin of Holland took bronze.
It was Britain’s first gold in the event in 20 years, since Chris Boardman won the inaugural edition of the road time trial.
Wiggins said: “I paced it perfectly. I still had gas in the final. Even on the last descent, I knew I was ahead, but I was pushing all the way.
“I don’t know what to say. I knew coming into it that I had the legs.
“Once I saw the course I knew if I was ever going to beat Tony it would be here.”
Wiggins – Olympic time-trial champion as well as Tour de France champion in 2012 – added a first road world title to multiple golds he had achieved at World Championships on the track.
Cyclist Dahlia Palmer threatens legal action over Jamaica Cycling Federation's suspension of her coach Robert Farrier
In a potentially precedent-setting move, lawyers at New City Chambers, representing Dahlia Palmer, a Jamaican cyclist based in Trinidad and Tobago, have issued a final written warning to the Jamaican Cycling Federation. The letter, sent on September 20, 2023, threatens legal action against the federation unless they reconsider their suspension of Ms. Palmer's coach, Mr. Robert Farrier, and permit his attendance at the 2023 Pan Am Games and future events.
The legal dispute stems from a series of events that have unfolded over the past months. In May 2023, the federation's Secretary, Ms. Donna-Kaye Sharpe, sent an email stating that athletes, coaches, and managers must fund their participation in the Pan American Track Championships. These championships served as a crucial qualifier for the PANAM Games 2023 and the Olympic Games 2024.
Ms. Palmer and Mr. Farrier decided to self-fund their participation, a decision that eventually led to Ms. Palmer's impressive performance at the championships, securing her qualification for the PANAM Games 2023.
However, issues arose when Ms. Palmer opted not to attend the CAC Games 2023. She cited her lack of trust in the accompanying coach, Mr. Carlton Simmonds, as a primary reason. Mr. Farrier expressed concerns about Coach Simmonds during a virtual conference in May 2023, indicating that Ms. Palmer preferred to focus on events like the championships that held Olympic qualification status.
On June 7, 2023, the federation sent letters to both Ms. Palmer and Mr. Farrier expressing disapproval of Ms. Palmer's non-attendance at the CAC Games and concerns about Mr. Farrier's comments regarding Coach Simmonds. Mr. Farrier, to his surprise, received a 12-month suspension in response.
As tensions mounted, the federation requested a meeting with Ms. Palmer on August 31, 2023, to discuss her non-attendance at the CAC Games and the Olympics 2024. Ms. Palmer insisted that any discussions about her cycling career must include Mr. Farrier, her coach and manager.
Attorney Amy Rajkumar, whose signature appears beneath the missive, argues that the federation's actions amount to breaches of duty and an abuse of power. They emphasize that the federation never provided additional staff or financial support for Olympic qualifiers attended by Ms. Palmer. Moreover, Mr. Farrier was never selected to accompany athletes during fully funded events organized by the association.
The lawyers contend that the federation's suspension of Mr. Farrier, their refusal to provide a copy of the Federation's Constitution and Selection Policy, and their financial negligence violate the International Olympic Committee Code of Ethics, which highlights principles like safety, well-being, and respect for universal ethical standards.
The letter concludes with a request that the federation reconsiders their decisions, lifts Mr. Farrier's suspension, and fully funds Ms. Palmer's attendance at the PANAM Games 2023. Failure to comply by noon on September 26, 2023, will result in legal action against the federation.
Young cyclists excel at Junior Caribbean Cycling Champs in Dom Rep
Jamaica's young cyclists Cajur Chue, Khalil Francis and Melaika Russell all registered credible performances during the recently-concluded two-day Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic.
The three were among 56 athletes across 13 countries that participated in the championships, where Jamaica finished second on the medal table with three medals behind host nation which had nine medals. Puerto Rico completed the top three with two medals.
Chue, National Juvenile Time Trial champion, competed in the Juvenile Men 10km Individual Time Trial on the first day of action and claimed silver in 13 minutes and 29 seconds. He just missed out on top spot by 10 seconds, as he finished behind Puerto Rico’s Amauri Santiago (13min 19 sec), while Dominican Republic’s Emir David Nina Garcia (13mins 25sec) was third.
Jamaica's National women's Time Trial champion Russell was also in action on day one, as she competed in the Juvenile Women 10km individual Time Trial, where she also placed second in 16 minutes and 47 seconds. The event was won by Bermuda’s Charlotte Millington, with Barbadian Arielle Greaves taking third in a time of 17 minutes and 40 seconds.
Russell returned on the second day and won gold in the 60km Road Race for Juvenile Women, becoming the first Caribbean Road champion from Jamaica since Marloe
Rodman in 2015.
In the juvenile male 70km road race, Chue took an early solo breakaway and opened a 150 metres gap with 15km to go, but was unable to maintain that tempo and got
caught. Both Chue and Francis missed out on the podium, as they placed sixth and 10th respectively.
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