Kaine Mitchell, a 28-year-old BMX freestyle rider from Dudley, has secured his first British Championships medal, taking home the bronze in his highest-ever finish at the national competition. The result improves on his previous best of fifth place and marks his first time reaching the podium.
Mr Mitchell said: "Taking that bronze medal was a very special moment for me. I have competed at the British Championships for many years now and never managed to make the podium. My previous two years I finished 5th, so to finally stand on the podium felt surreal."
National Series Champion title
His success did not end with the bronze, as he was also named the 2026 National Series Champion after finishing as the top-ranked rider in the UK across the four-round series.
Reflecting on the competition, Mr Mitchell said: "I had two bad competitions leading into this one, one where I played it too safe and another where I crashed out, so coming into this event I really wanted a result. There were a few bits missing from my run and, now the dust has settled, I look back and think, what if I had done those bits I missed? But we will never know. To take the bronze is a huge achievement for me, and to share the podium with two of my best friends made it even more special."
Growth of BMX in the UK
His achievements follow what he described as several challenging seasons, making the results especially meaningful. Mr Mitchell also reflected on the growth of BMX in the UK, especially since the sport was added to the Olympic programme.
He said: "The future of BMX is looking very bright. I also offer coaching and have some great kids on my books who are really starting to shine, so it is great to see. With BMX now being in the Olympics, the number of kids wanting to compete and get involved has risen a lot over the past few years, and I hope that continues to grow."
Encouraging newcomers
He encouraged newcomers to try the sport, emphasising its accessibility and sense of community. Mr Mitchell said: "I would say if you are looking to start BMX, it is a very accessible sport. You don’t need to spend loads of money on a bike or to go to an expensive skatepark, as most local towns have a skatepark which is free to access in a park. BMX is one big family and everyone is very welcoming. You can find yourself at a skatepark knowing nobody and by the end of the day have 10 new friends. It is a great sport to get involved in."
Looking ahead, Mr Mitchell still holds onto one dream. He said: "As for the Olympics, that is every rider’s dream. It is the pinnacle of the sport. Maybe at my age now I am a little late for this, but I can always still dream."