British BMX star Kieran Reilly out to give Newcastle another title to celebrate
Reilly, who won Olympic silver in the BMX freestyle in Paris last July, had to miss the Magpies' Carabao Cup success over Liverpool at Wembley last month due to a training block in Costa Rica.
The 23-year-old is no stranger to medals, having been crowned world and European champion in 2023, but has a different challenge on the horizon with Featured, a BMX competition in which 16 riders will perform major tricks without being penalised for a fall by judges.
'I was absolutely buzzing to see Newcastle win the cup. Massive for the city and a moment we've all dreamed of for so many years,' Reilly told the PA news agency.
'I managed to catch the game at the airport in Costa Rica as I've been training out here for Featured and I just couldn't believe it. Such a top performance from the boys.
'Let's hope that I can bring another title to Newcastle when I go to Featured in April.'
There was little respite for Reilly after his second place at the Olympics, with focus quickly shifting to September's European BMX Championships, where he won gold.
While the Gateshead rider feels he has been afforded 'more respect' since the Paris Games, what has not changed is his trademark mullet and his determination to inspire more children to pick up a bike, especially ahead of the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Reilly said: 'To be honest, I can't see us getting rid of it (the mullet) any time soon. I've typecast myself now. Everyone expects the hair out of the back of the helmet.
'We'll see if it holds on (for LA).
'The people in BMX love the sport and want it to grow. We understand how that happens and it is from targeting kids and the next generation.
'I went to a skate park, saw the older kids do a lot smaller trickers than what will happen at Featured and then I decided I wanted to do this. I hope we get that at Featured and, with the content that comes from it, kids will see it and hopefully they pick up a bike.'
A key feature of BMX competition is consistency and avoiding mistakes, which is why Reilly is thrilled about the concept of Featured, with riders encouraged to go all out without fear of missing the mark.
'I have got some big plans,' Reilly revealed. 'I am pretty much going in with a list of tricks that I know will win the event.
'That kind of mentality I gained from Paris, where it is bittersweet when you don't go all in and don't get what you want, so this time I am laying it all out there.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
14 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Tommy Freeman hands Lions major injury scare on eve of third Australia Test
Tommy Freeman has handed the British & Irish Lions a major injury doubt before their third Test against Australia. The 24-year-old winger, who has started the first two Tests, sat out the captain's run on Friday and it is understood he is struggling with a back injury. The Lions are targeting a first clean sweep since 1927 and a first unbeaten series since 1974. On Friday the Lions were adamant that Freeman would be fit to play in Sydney, claiming his absence was down to his workload being managed. It is understood, however, that contingency plans have been drawn up that could see Huw Jones moved to the wing and Owen Farrell coming into the starting XV. Mack Hansen would be an option if fully fit but he has missed the first two Tests with a foot injury and was deemed '85%' fit earlier in the week. Other options include Duhan van der Merwe and James Lowe with Blair Kinghorn switching from the left to the right wing. Jamie Osborne could also be a consideration. This season Freeman has featured in 33 matches, surpassing the 30-match limit mandated by the Rugby Football Union. 'He was just doing the light walk-throughs,' said the assistant coach John Dalziel. 'Wingers will do a lot of high-intensity running so he had the morning off. He's got to view a stadium which is hopefully going to come to life tomorrow. 'There's no easy way to be a winger when you are chasing kicks and balls up in the air in the way the first two Tests have gone, so it's quite easy for those guys to get their metres up.' Tadhg Furlong, meanwhile, has called on the Lions to make lasting memories as the tourists seek to wrap up a first clean sweep since 1927. The Ireland tighthead prop will make his ninth consecutive start for the Lions, moving to joint fifth on the all-time list and though the 32-year-old did not entirely rule out the 2029 trip to New Zealand, he conceded the clash in Sydney is likely to be his last for the touring side. 'You're still playing for the Lions, it's not hard to motivate yourself,' he said. 'My motivation is obvious. I'm not going to say I won't [but] I probably won't play for the Lions again. It's been very good to me. It's been very good to my career. You want to play well in it. 'Without being clinical about it, you want to give the best version of yourself to it. Sometimes the last memory is the lasting memory you have in a jersey. I want it to be a good one. I think you can use [that] towards your advantage, just the appreciation of it. Understanding what makes the Lions so special or why it's so special to you. You don't want to get too caught up and emotional about it because you have to do a job. 'Lions tours are some of the best days of your career and I'm delighted to be able to go again.' There were question marks over Furlong's fitness at the start of the tour after he arrived into camp in June with no game time since early May due to a calf problem. 'It wasn't a big enough injury to warrant [thinking I wouldn't make it],' he added. 'It was like, we need to get back and play here, lads, because it's on your calendar. You want it so badly. I think the cruel thing is when you go on one, you just want to go on more. You go on that first one and you take it all in. 'The second one, you want to perform and the third one you just want to appreciate it all because you don't want it to pass you by. There was a stage this season where we were having conversations with medical staff. It's like, what is going on here? We need to nip this stuff in the bud.' While Furlong forms part of an unchanged all Leinster and Ireland front row, Australia have changed two-thirds of theirs with Taniela Tupou coming in at tighthead and Billy Pollard promoted to the No 2 jersey after a late injury to Dave Porecki. Tupou nicknamed 'the Tongan Thor' has endured a difficult season in Super Rugby and will head to Racing 92 next season but Furlong is only too aware of the threat posed by the 23-stone prop. 'I first came across him in 2018, he was a young fella breaking through,' said Furlong. 'He was coming off the bench for Australia. He is what he says in the tin. He's incredibly powerful. He's dangerous in the scrum. Very aggressive. He poses his own threats around the park. He's a good carrier, explosive.'
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
James Milner to wear number 20 at Brighton in memory of Diogo Jota
James Milner will wear the number 20 shirt at Brighton this season in memory of the late Diogo Jota, describing his former Liverpool team-mate as a 'great friend'. The Portuguese forward died aged 28 last month in a car crash, alongside his brother Andre Silva, just weeks after helping Liverpool clinch Premier League title glory. Liverpool have retired the number 20 jersey worn by Jota in his five seasons at Anfield, three of them alongside Milner before the veteran England midfielder moved to Brighton in the summer of 2023. With Carlos Baleba opting to have 17 on his back ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and vacating 20, Milner, who has been Brighton's number six, has swooped in to pay a touching tribute to Jota. 'Once I heard Carlos was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and pay tribute to Diogo Jota,' Milner said on the club's X channel. 'He was an amazing player who I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well. 'It will be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League this year.' Milner – whose contract was extended by Brighton in June for another season, which will take him past his 40th birthday – was among a number of Jota's former team-mates who attended his funeral in July. With 638 Premier League appearances already to his name, he sits within striking distance of Gareth Barry's all-time record of 653 games.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Lando Norris completes practice double at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Lando Norris completed an impressive practice double over championship rival Oscar Piastri at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Norris trails McLaren team-mate Piastri by 16 points heading into Sunday's round at the Hungaroring – the final race before the summer break. But the British driver laid down an early marker in the first running of the weekend when he beat Piastri to top spot by just 0.019 seconds. He then extended his advantage to 0.291 seconds in the day's concluding session. Norris' world championship bid suffered a setback at last weekend's rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix when Piastri overtook him on the first racing lap and went on to claim a comfortable win. However, it was Norris – never previously out-qualified by a team-mate in six visits to the Hungaroring – who stole an early advantage with an impressive performance on Friday at a circuit he has declared among his favourites on the calendar. There was one moment of concern for Norris when he ran wide at the final turn. But he managed to retake control of his McLaren, and survived without ending up in the wall. Lando Norris flirts with the barriers as he rounds the final corner 😮 No damage done and he goes on his way #F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 1, 2025 Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, four tenths off the pace, but three places clear of team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion, who has a record eight wins and nine pole positions in Hungary, was three tenths adrift of Leclerc. In the first session, Hamilton complained his car didn't 'feel good', and ran off the road at the first corner following a major lock-up. He was then beaten by both Aston Martin drivers in the second running. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were fourth and fifth respectively – the latter returning to his cockpit after he missed the opening session with a back injury – while George Russell ended the running in seventh. On Thursday, Max Verstappen ended speculation he could leave Red Bull at the end of the year by committing his future there for at least another season. However, he finished a distant 14th in practice, over 1.1 seconds slower than Norris. 'I don't know what is going on,' said Verstappen. 'It is just undriveable.' Verstappen is also facing a stewards' investigation after he threw a towel – seemingly left in the Dutchman's cockpit by accident – out of his car. Verstappen has been called to see the stewards at 6.20pm local time (5.20pm BST).
