My Story, written by Charlotte Worthington
In 2017, a decision in Switzerland completely altered my life.
I was working as a chef in my hometown of Manchester when the announcement came from the UCI that BMX freestyle park would be added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. I was selected to represent my country and became the first-ever women’s BMX freestyle park Olympic champion.
This summer, I'm heading to Paris to defend my title.
When BMX freestyle was added to the Olympic schedule in 2017, it presented me with an incredible opportunity: to join the fledgling Great Britain Cycling Team program.
I only discovered BMX in my late teens, having previously learned to perform tricks on a scooter. I got the nickname at school ‘Scoots McGee’, but I didn't care because I was doing something I loved. I was nearly 20 before I began to ride BMX seriously. Swapping my job in a Mexican restaurant for life as a professional rider, I enjoyed a successful debut year on the international stage.
In 2019, I won gold in the inaugural UEC BMX Freestyle Park European Championships and became the first British woman to medal at the world level in Chengdu, China, claiming bronze in the UCI World Championships. I also won the inaugural British National Championships in my discipline that year.
This form established me as a medal hope for Tokyo as Great Britain’s representative in the new event. That hope paid off, in my second run, I became the first woman ever to land a 360-degree backflip in competition. I had tried it in my first run and fell, and everyone was questioning, would I try it again. I did, I landed it, I won gold, and the rest is history!
What’s followed has been a roller coaster. In 2022, I won the national title again, and I was amazed to be named on the New Year’s Honours list, receiving an MBE for services to BMX riding. It made me so proud – but there have also been some challenges.
At the start of 2023, I talked openly about my struggles with the pressures of being an Olympic champion and took some time out from major competitions. It felt like the right thing to do.
I returned to the world stage at the world championships in Glasgow, where I finished seventh. It wasn’t the best result ever, but it felt great to be back on the ramps doing what I love – and all the better in front of a home crowd.
Though the pressure will be on me to retain the title I won in Tokyo, I believe I have the resilience and ability to perform on the big stage.
I can’t wait for Paris – I'm ready to take on the challenge of another Olympic Games.
