2021 UCI BMX FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - ATHLETE NOMINATIONS

AusCycling confirms that four athletes have been selected to the Australian National Team to contest the 2021 UCI BMX Freestyle World Championships, to be held in France from 4-8 June 2021.

The four riders selected are reigning world champion Brandon Loupos (Sydney, NSW), 2017 world champion Logan Martin (Gold Coast, QLD), Josh Matthews (Gold Coast, QLD) and Jaie Toohey (Gold Coast, QLD).

AusCycling's current position statement on international competition activities outlines that no national team campaigns or projects will be conducted outside Australia before 31 August 2021 unless there is a risk to Olympic and or Paralympic qualification.

The decision to send athletes to the BMX Freestyle World Championships came following the UCI's update to the qualification systems for BMX Freestyle for the Tokyo Olympic Games due to the postponement of the Olympic Games as a consequence of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The update extended the UCI Olympic Qualification Ranking period from the frozen UCI rankings as of 3 March 2020 to include June's 2021 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships.

In BMX Freestyle, the nation that finishes on top of the rankings at the end of the qualification period will secure two athlete positions at the Tokyo Olympic Games. With Australia and the USA currently tied on points at the top of the rankings, Australia needs to contest the World Championships in order to stay in contention for top spot.

In the women’s UCI Olympic Qualification Rankings, Australia is currently in position to secure one place at the Games. Regardless of whether Australia contests the World Championships, Australia’s position on the rankings is unlikely to change, therefore Natalya Diehm will not travel to the World Championships in line with AusCycling's position statement on international competition activities

Australian National Team

• Logan Martin (Gold Coast, QLD) - 2017 world champion
• Brandon Loupos (Sydney, NSW) - 2019 world champion
• Josh Matthews (Gold Coast, QLD)
• Jaie Toohey (Gold Coast, QLD)