Anthony Dean announces retirement from BMX racing

"I had always dreamed about racing my bike around the world as a kid, but never did I imagine it would turn out like this," remarked Adelaide's dual Olympian Anthony Dean, 30, after announcing his retirement from international cycling.

Dean's love affair with BMX began as a six-year-old with the Cross Keys BMX club in Salisbury, South Australia. With close friend Sam Willoughby, Dean enjoyed a rapid rise through the sport as a junior, including sharing the podium as teenagers in the Junior Final at the 2009 BMX World Championships in Adelaide, where Dean claimed Bronze.

Dean embarked on an elite international career shortly after and would claim a career-best fourth while on his debut at the Elite World Championships in 2012.

"My first major career moment would have been in Birmingham, UK, in 2012, where I finished fourth at the World Championships. At 21 years old, it kickstarted my career and instilled the confidence in myself which I carried throughout my career."

Dean secured his first World Cup medal in 2014, finishing second in Manchester and finishing second overall in the World Cup rankings on the year.

A reserve for the London 2012 Olympics, Dean's 2016 Olympic dream was almost shattered when he broke his collarbone just seven months before the Games. However, he recovered quickly and qualified for the Olympics in Rio with a near-perfect run into the final end secured eighth overall.

"The next major career moment would be the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. To be there and qualify second for the Elite Men's final was an amazing feeling and beyond anything, I could have imagined as a kid. Although the final didn't go to plan, I was proud of my performance at the event," Dean added.

Dean recently collected several World Cup finals appearances and a sixth-place finish at the 2019 World Championships in Zolder. Dean was also impressed at the start of 2020 on home soil, finishing second and fourth in the opening rounds of the World Cup in Shepparton.

In 2021, Dean was named to a second Australian Olympic Team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Dean paid tribute to the many people integral to guiding his journey in the sport.

"The list of thank yous are endless, but I will keep it short and just thank everyone who has helped me in my career. From the age of 6, so many people have been a part of this journey with me. So if you are reading this, I want to thank you for everything from the bottom of my heart.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without the support and guidance of everyone. I would like to also acknowledge the support from the Australian Cycling Team over the past nine years, the ups and downs they have always stood by me and given me every opportunity I needed to succeed."

Dean will now focus on coaching the next generation of BMX athletes and shift his focus to his Adelaide business Square 44 Cafe which he established during his racing career.

"There are so many things BMX and sport has taught me that I will use and will carry me through life.

"From the determination and dedication you need to reach a goal when you fail multiple times, but you continue to press forward to achieve it."