As Olympic Freestyle Park bronze medallist Declan Brooks calls time on his competitive BMX career, we look back on his fantastic career highlights.

Having been an adventurous child with a love of riding on two wheels, Brooks eventually became a founding member of the Great Britian Cycling Team’s BMX Freestyle Park programme, before going on to win an Olympic bronze medal at BMX Freestyle’s inaugural Games in Tokyo just two years later.

Encouraged by his father, Brooks was riding motorbikes, motorcross and BMX from a young age before turning a hobby into a career that took him around the world working as a stunt rider, appearing in Mary Poppins, Cadbury’s promotions, Bollywood movies and even the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil with whom he toured the USA.

When BMX Freestyle Park was announced as a new sport for the 2020 Olympic Games, Brooks’ talent was quickly spotted by the new programme and he became a founding member in 2018. 

Having been a competitive BMX rider for 15 years, Brooks quickly marked himself out as a potential medallist when he took to the international stage in 2019.

In October of that year, he collected a bronze medal at the UEC BMX Freestyle Park European Championships in Switzerland and followed that with a second place at the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup in Chengdu, China. 

Being selected for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gave Brooks an opportunity to show his skills on the world stage, as he went on to deliver a skillful run which saw him claim a sensational bronze medal for his efforts, putting himself firmly in the history books.

In 2023, Brooks claimed another bronze medal, this time at the European Games in Krakow, Poland. A number of nasty crashes and injury have seen Brooks working hard through recovery and rehab to return back to the ramps, but this time has seen Brooks take on more coaching and mentoring of younger talent across the BMX community.

On his retirement, Declan said: 

“BMX has seen me go from a shy boy finding his confidence in BMX, to reaching incredible heights and creating amazing memories of traveling the world with my bike and my mates.

“Many see my bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics as my biggest achievement, but I feel it’s the resilience I’ve built to come back time and time again that I’m most proud of.  

“British Cycling has truly changed my life, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped me become the athlete I am today. I leave the programme hopeful that the next generation will dominate on the world stage like I know they can.

“While I know now is the right time for me to step back from competitive BMX, I love this sport more than ever so I will be sticking around and am looking forward to what comes next!”

Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Stephen Park said:

“Declan has been a stalwart of the British Cycling squad from the moment he joined GBCT, full of passion and commitment to the sport and what can be achieved in it.

“Watching him claim the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games was an incredible moment for British sport but what really makes Declan stand out is his passion for the BMX community and his commitment to giving back to his sport.

“Not only does Declan hold himself to a high standard as a competitor, but he has played a huge part in so many other people’s journeys. He is a true advocate for the sport and epitomises the community focus of BMX Freestyle Park. Everyone at British Cycling wishes Declan all the best for the future and I can’t wait to see where his unique attitude and knowledge take him next.”