BMX Junior jumper off to Worlds

BALLARAT has a freshly minted national champion after Josh Jolly claimed gold in the 13 Boys class at the recent BMX National titles held in Shepparton.

It’s not the first time the Ballarat High School Year 8 student has tasted success at the highest level, having also won two golds a few years ago.

Jolly’s most recent win now means he’s off to Heusden-Zolder in Belgium for the World Championship in July, an event he’s raced at before.

“It was good to come over the line in first,” he said. “I’m going to try to get into the final [in Belgium]. I got third there when I was nine.

“It’s a big event and hard, but I hope I do good.”

A member of Knox BMX Club, Jolly balances his schoolwork with elite sport with the help of his school and he’s part of the specialist sports program.

That sees the school help with training and competition schedules.

With BMX racing now an Olympic sport, Jolly said competing at the game was something he hoped to achieve one day.

“I’ll just have to train hard and keep riding and wait until I’m old enough to get it,” he said.