Diehm and Gilbee soar on opening day of BMX Freestyle National Championships

The 2025 AusCycling BMX Freestyle National Championships kicked off with high-energy performances at the state-of-the-art National BMX Freestyle Park at the Gold Coast Sports Precinct.

Elite riders Xavier Gilbee and Natalya Diehm rose to the occasion, topping their respective heats and setting the stage for an electrifying final on Sunday.

Four-time national champion Diehm brought her A-game, demonstrating why she remains a dominant force in Australian BMX Freestyle.

The Gold Coast based rider would produce a qualifying score of 91.83.

"I was really excited about coming into today, having not been under this type of pressure since the Olympics on a big course," she said.

Natalya Diehm during her heat at BMXFS National Championships.

The Paris Olympic bronze medallist also teased a fresh take on a familiar trick, putting a creative spin on her backflip.

"Nothing that we haven’t seen before—it’s just a backflip over a transfer. Usually, I do it over a step-up, but I’m trying to level up my riding by doing the flip from the flat spine to the box."

With her sights set on a fifth national title, Diehm is ready to push the boundaries in the final.

Meanwhile, Sarah Nicki had a challenging day, revealing that she suffered a crash during Friday’s practice.

Unsure if she would compete, Nicki had to modify her runs but still fought hard to stay in contention.

Defending champion Sarah Nicki during her heat.

The youthfulness of Gilbee was impressive to watch as he torched the outdoor course during his run with the judges handing him the top score of 87.50.

Loupos, a former World Champion, showcased his signature mix of power and precision despite battling the scorching heat.

Brandon Loupous nails a move during his heat on the Gold Coast.

"The heat is getting to me today. Didn’t really have much after the halfway mark in the second run, but still feel like I did enough," Loupos admitted post-run.

Despite feeling the effects of the conditions, he remains confident heading into the final as he makes his return from a serious back injury sustained late last year.

"Finals format is where I thrive, so tomorrow, step it up and hopefully get a third national championship," he added.

Elite Men Qualifying Results

1 Xavier Gilbee 87.50
2 Keegan Pryor 86.33
3 Brandon Loupos 84.33
4 Will Spedding 84.00
5 Chris James 74.17
6 Jaie Toohey 15.67
7 Liam Quinlavin 10.33
8 Alec Danelutti 3.50

Elite Women Qualifying Results

1 Natalya Diehm 91.83
2 Sarah Nicki 90.67
3 Mylee Toohey 82.67
4 Kayla McCormick 74.17
5 Kebe Stanford-Modini 73.00

Photo Credit: Past Tense Photography