Shanaze - Britain's leading exponent of BMX (bicycle motocross) - suffered disappointment when she came off her bike in the women’s BMX final in Beijing whilst going all out for gold.
When at the age of ten she purchased a BMX bike for just one pound, no one would imagine Shanaze would go on to win five British Championships and eight European Championships at Junior level, not to mention three World titles by the time she was 19 years old.
After stepping up to the senior level she quickly became the Women's Senior UCI BMX World Champion in her first appearance at the UCI Track World Championships. She also raced in the Great Britain women’s cycle track team during the Championships, and not only was she the first athlete to win a track championship in her rookie year, but she did it after only a few months of training and broke a world record to boot!
Last year The Sunday Times named Shanaze Young Sportswoman of the Year, and she followed up that accolade by winning gold in both events yet again at the 2008 World Championships. Despite being one of the world’s leading exponents of track cycling, the 19-year-old’s heart currently lies with BMX.
Looking ahead to London 2012, Shanaze is hoping the organisers will again include both of her events in the cycling programme, giving her the chance to possibly complete a unique double. Shanaze is one of the brightest stars of British Olympic sport and a fantastic Ambassador for BT, who looks certain to become one of the faces of London 2012.
“I want the public to know my story because I didn’t have the best of upbringings and that might inspire a few kids.”
