A major World Cup event is coming to Australia for the first time and is set to make history in more ways than one.
the main points:
- Natalia Dehm says men and women will get equal pay for the first time at this event
- Champion rider Logan Martin says he can’t wait to compete on home soil
- The event will likely double as an Olympic qualification and will be held alongside the music festival
In December, the BMX World Cup stage will take place on the Gold Coast and is likely to become a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Urban Sport Fest will bring 150 of the world’s best freestyle motorcyclists to the coast, along with a music festival that will take place at Carrara Stadium.
Queensland-born Natalia Deem said it would be the first time women had been given the same prize money as men in the sport.
She said that previous prize money for competitions in overseas countries would not even cover the cost of flights, so world class winners were left out of their pocket.
“It’s amazing,” said Dehm.
“We girls have worked hard to get equal pay.
“There’s a lot of travel, a lot of costs involved – so yeah, it’s usually more travel costs than prize money for events.
Queensland win
Gladstone-born Dehm said her path to the world stage began when she was in school.
“I was riding my bike to school with some friends and going for a two-minute ride to where the skate park was, and all the boys were skating and I was like, ‘I’m going to try it,'” she said.
“Since that afternoon I’ve been there every day after school, every weekend, so I stuck with that.
“I am now on the Gold Coast, because that is where all the training facilities are.
“I only started competing in 2019 and since then it is all outside, so none of my family has been able to watch me compete.
“So this would be really special.
The world number one BMX freestyle rider and local Logan Martin on the Gold Coast said there was nothing like the event in Australia.
“I’ve been competing in these events for about nine years,” he said.
“A lot in Europe, all over France and China, but for the first time in Australia.
“I am so excited that the event is taking place here, 15 minutes from my house.
The event will run from December 9-11.