Olympic medalist Natalya Diehm inspiring next generation of BMX stars “It wasn’t until I went to the skate park I noticed how many kids I knew from school were there, [but] all of them were boys,” she said. Growing up in Gladstone central Queensland, Natalya’s passion for BMX started with a new bike and a […]

Olympic medalist Natalya Diehm inspiring next generation of BMX stars

“It wasn’t until I went to the skate park I noticed how many kids I knew from school were there, [but] all of them were boys,” she said.
Growing up in Gladstone central Queensland, Natalya’s passion for BMX started with a new bike and a trip to her local skate park.
“A lot of my friends do like netball and swimming and all those sports.

4 hours agoFri 31 Jan 2025 at 11:13pm

A woman competing in BMX at the Paris Olympics puts her first in the air after finishing in third place. — “We’re got pathways and are getting more kids in the sport. They’re excited to be a part of it, it’s a really cool scene.”

Maggie McDougall leading the group in a BMX race. (Supplied)But these trips to the skate park gave her a glimpse into what was, at the time, considered to be a male-dominated sport.This first trip to the skate park left her in love with the sport.Finishing ninth in the world for her age division, she said getting to see some of the people she looks up to in action was inspiring.Ms Kerr said there is also a national talent academy to increase juniors in the sport and create pathways to develop those now involved.

A woman showing off her Olympic medal. — Despite her injuries forcing her to move back in with her parents, and at times questioning if she wanted to continue in the sport, Diehm said the challenging years leading to up to her bronze medal in Paris were worth it.

“I love seeing people that I follow on social media and the people I look up too,” she said.After 10 surgeries and breaking bones in almost every part of her body, BMX freestyle rider Natalya Diehm did not know if she would make it back on the BMX track — let alone onto the Olympic podium in Paris.

‘I had no idea what the skate park was’

The facility, primed for professionals, has expanded its programming and numbers in recent years.ABC CapricorniaDiehm said it was girls like Maggie that now motivate her to ensure there are equal opportunities in the sport.

A group of BMX riders at a skate park. — “My first surgery was on my elbow when I was about 12,” Diehm said.

Natalya Diehm celebrating after claiming a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)It is evident the success of riders like Diehm and Saya Sakakibara at the Paris Olympics is paying dividends for young riders.

“I built some really strong friendships and we would always be excited to ride straight from school to the skate park.”

“I like that it is not that big of a girl’s sport so I can show that anybody can do it,” she said.

Pathways for young athletes

Maggie is proving to be young gun and has already represented her country in her discipline.”It helps drive me into the future of my riding and my career because I want to give kids and girls the same opportunities that I never had and be the person that I wish I had to look up too,” she said.A pathway which is very different to what Diehm experienced.By Freya Jetson

“I’ve broken my ankle, thumb, hands and had two broken arms at one point.

Natalya Diehm and Logan Martin with other freestyle BMX riders at a jump on the Gold Coast. (ABC Gold Coast: Tara Cassidy)Natalya Diehm shows off her bronze medal after returning from the Paris Olympics. (Supplied: AOC)Diehm now trains out of the BMX Freestyle National Training Centre on the Gold Coast.Doing more flips and breaking more bones than most will in a lifetime, a common question is why she wants to continue?

The rise of women competing in BMX

But Diehm said inspiring the next generation is what keeps her motivated.Maggie McDougall after finishing third at the National BMX Championships. (Supplied)Topic:Sport

Development coach for National BMX Freestyle with AusCycling, Chloe Kerr, said athletes like Diehm have massively contributed to this surge.

Six BMX riders are competing and going over jumps. — She is proud to be a part of the growing BMX community and said it provides a thrill.

“It wasn’t until I started competing that I knew there was a major difference [of opportunities in the sport],” she said.”You have to see it to believe it. It’s growing rapidly,” Ms Kerr said.”I love the feeling of the wind on the track.”Eleven-year-old Maggie McDougall is one of them, who competes in BMX racing.Maggie said she also wants to one day compete at the Olympics.

A young BMX racer smiling with a medal after BMX success — “Just the fact that they can connect with her so easily, then seeing her win a [Olympic] medal I think is just so inspiring.”

“Since then, I’ve had two shoulder surgeries, six knee surgeries, and will potentially have another two knee surgeries.””I had no idea what the skate park was, but I said ‘yeah, lets go there’.””My parents picked me up early from school and asked ‘where do you want to go? The skate park?'” she said.