How Olympian Khalen Young is making a difference for disadvantaged youth in WA

BMX racer Khalen Young is one of four Olympians awarded a grant from the World Olympians Association (WOA), to support his Karlup Wheels in Motion Indigenous Corporation, an initiative aimed at delivering better outcomes for disadvantaged kids in Western Australia.

The Olympians receive up to $5000 USD ($7633 AUD) to help drive sustainable initiatives which benefit either fellow Olympians or their communities.

Young’s project has sprung from humble beginnings, with the West Australian and his wife Michelle initially visiting pump tracks and skateparks with their son in the Armadale region of WA last year.

The couple soon realised there was a community funding issue for youth in the region, and in October 2022 the Karlup initiative was born.

“It just started out like with small things, like helping out changing flat tyres or giving the bikes a service, handing out water, and that kind of escalated into handing out shoes and things like that. Then we started shoe drives and jumper drives, just to help out within the community there,” Young says.

“And these kids, they needed a helping hand, because some of them are really talented, but it just can't be harnessed because they come from low socio-economic areas, or they don't have that much money at home. But being in a position now where we could potentially help, that's what we thought we would do.”

With bikes, skateboards, helmets and protective gear donated to the cause, Young now heads down to local skate parks and BMX tracks where he can run clinics and loan out the equipment.

While the clinics involve a mix of structured coaching and informal riding, the focus is on mentoring, the 2012 Olympian says.

“You see a lot of Indigenous and non-Indigenous kids that come down there that, unfortunately they do come from not pleasant backgrounds, and so we just provide a safe space for them for three, four hours. They get to come down and have some food, have a ride, and we loan our stuff out.

“If they really do like it and they keep coming to these things, we can create a pathway and point them in the direction of [BMX] come and try days. It’s just about building a relationship with these kids first and foremost, and letting them know that this is a safe space.”

An early success was realised on Australia Day this year, when the program attracted funding for a ‘Wheels for Camaraderie’ event, attracting more than 400 people to the Edge Skatepark in Kwinana.

“We just find that Australia Day, it seems to be a source of frustration for a lot of Indigenous people, and we’re about bridging the gap. We can't change the past, but we can come together.

“And we just had a skate, we had a height contest in the bowl, we had a heap of skateboarders down there, jumping castles, we had the airbag, we had a local indigenous artist. They did the smoking ceremony, Welcome to Country.”

Young says the changes he sees in kids at the clinics is subtle but profound.

“There's no anti-social behaviour … When we're down there for those hours, the kids aren’t breaking things, and they all get along with each other, whether they’re Indigenous or non-Indigenous.

“It's just about teaching them to make a healthy choice, and trying to promote generational wellness.”

Working with Armadale council and Indigenous facility Champion Centre, the couple hopes to use the WOA grant to develop more Karlup programs in the region, and create “a pathway for somebody on a health care card that does BMX,” Michelle says.

She adds that Karlup has now also partnered with WA mental health campaign Act, Belong, Commit, and Young praises Michelle as “the brains trust” behind the initiative.

He also credits her with getting him through tough times after he retired post-2012 Olympics. “If it wasn't for my wife, I wouldn't be here where I sit today, and I owe everything to her,” Young says.

However, after spending some time away from the sport and becoming a husband and father, Young admits he now finds joy in being able to pass on his 30-plus years of BMX knowledge to others, either in the Karlup clinics or through his MVK racing team in WA.

“I just find that in the grand scheme of things, this is far more enjoyable. Trying to create these pathways and helping these kids is far more enjoyable than any race I’ve ever, ever won,” he reveals.

Young names Declan McGee and Indigenous rider Jayrell Robinson as riders under his tutelage that have huge potential in the sport.

“[Robinson’s] got immense talent, [and] it just proves that when he's in a thriving environment, when he’s in a healthy environment, the kid’s unstoppable,” Young says.

Still in good shape, Young plans to race in the Masters category at the UCI World Championships followed by the Grands in America, but with the Karlup initiative blossoming, he admits his racing days may be drawing to a close.

“I’d like it to be a full-time job for us, and be able to provide pathways and programs for kids all over Western Australia.”

Photos: Karlup Wheels in Motion Indigenous Corporation