British Cycling can today announce that Jamie Bestwick will be stepping down from his role as BMX Freestyle Podium Coach after seven years with the Great Britain Cycling Team. Jamie has also been pivotal to the recent success of Keiran Reilly, whose trajectory has shot up in the last two years, becoming the first ever […]
British Cycling can today announce that Jamie Bestwick will be stepping down from his role as BMX Freestyle Podium Coach after seven years with the Great Britain Cycling Team.
Jamie has also been pivotal to the recent success of Keiran Reilly, whose trajectory has shot up in the last two years, becoming the first ever British world champion in 2023 before taking a spectacular silver medal at this year’s Olympic Games.
“Jamie’s dedication to the sport and the wider community is unmatched and his impact on the future of BMX Freestyle Park within GBCT is significant. Jamie leaves with our gratitude for everything he has put into the programme during his time with us and we wish him the best as he moves on to new opportunities.”
Since joining GBCT in 2017 after BMX Freestyle Park was confirmed as part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Jamie has coached and developed a number of athletes to successes including three Olympic medals, making Great Britain one of the most successful BMX Freestyle Park nations in the world.
“When BMX freestyle park was announced as an Olympic event for Tokyo 2020, Jamie joined GBCT and sat at the helm of the team, bringing his ambition, unmatched passion for the sport and a lifetime’s worth of service to the BMX Freestyle Park community, which has all continued during this time with the squad.
Jamie said: “These past seven years have been an honour and privilege coaching the BMX Freestyle Park programme. Our unprecedented success at the Olympics and world championship competition has been an inspiration to the country and the next generation of riders.
A stand-out moment of Jamie’s career was coaching Charlotte Worthington to Olympic gold at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where she made history as the first woman ever to land a 360-degree backflip, known internally as the ‘Ferrari’. This was quickly followed up with a bronze medal for Declan Brooks, delivering unprecedented success for Great Britain in their first Olympic outing.
“Since then, he has supported rider development as the programme has continued to grow, delivering a huge roster of impressive successes across all levels of competition, and leading Great Britain to three Olympic medal wins in just two Olympic cycles.
Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Stephen Park CBE said:
“I am personally incredibly proud and will always be thankful for the opportunity to guide Great Britain’s best riders towards their goals and greatness, along with the wonderful support, expertise and resources of the British Cycling team. Thank you for a wonderful journey filled with fun, laughter and golden moments.”
