The Aussies are seriously dominating the international BMX circuit. They are pulling the sickest bunnyhops, the most gnarly grinds and all in all being the best they can be in the ultimate sport of cool.

One year out from the London Olympics Australia is ranked world numero uno in men’s and women’s BMX, with two riders in each top five.

The ace in the Australian male BMX pack is Sam Willoughby. Willoughby is the highest ranked of the crew of talented male riders forging Australia’s rise to the top and is proving himself a force to be reckoned with in London.

At 19 years of age, Willoughby hails from Adelaide but lives for the most part in the United States, where he has the opportunity to compete and train with America’s best riders.

“I currently live in California and compete in the ABA there with around 70,000 riders so it’s pretty awesome,” Willoughby said.

“I’d never won an elite national title before though, so it was cool to come back to Australia this year and get one.”

Willoughby shot to fame in 2008 when he won the junior elite BMX World Championship before moving on to make an assault on the senior circuit. In 2010, Willoughby’s first year out of the junior ranks, he finished the season ranked number one in the overall UCI ranking, a remarkable feat.

Keeping Willoughby company in the top five throughout 2011 has been South Australian compatriot Brian Kirkham, with Khalen Young and Luke Madill also playing key roles in Australia's soaring ranking. By maintaining the top world ranking, Australia looks well placed to qualify the maximum of three athletes for the London Games.

“The Olympics are the pinnacle of the sport,” 26-year-old Young said. “You can’t get any higher and to be selected as one of the three athletes to compete for Australia – that’s the goal; that’s the dream.”

It’s not only the Aussie men who are killing it on the international circuit, with the women also sitting at number one in the overall world rankings.

Caroline Buchanan of Canberra is sitting pretty in third place with Lauren Reynolds nudging her with the handlebars in fourth.

With the BMX World Championships kicking off in Copenhagen today, all eyes will be on the Aussies as they vie for podium positions and World glory in the all important journey to the London Olympics. Make sure you check olympics.com.au for all the results and updates.

To hear more about his journey to London, read Sam Willoughby's Athlete Diary

Alice Wheeler
AOC