Peckham BMX star has sights set on winning Olympics – and buying his parents a car

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Peckham’s Kye Whyte has his sights set on next summer’s Olympic Games – but admits without National Lottery funding he would not be able to chase his dreams.

The 19-year-old, born and raised in Peckham, started BMX at the age of six.

Whyte has won nine British Championships and six National Championships. He is in training for the World Cup Series and World Championships.

The South Londoner is already a European Championships silver medallist.

National Lottery funding has allowed him to train full-time in Manchester.

“Every race now I do is so I can pay back my mum and dad,” said Whyte.

“My parents played a huge part, helping me and my brother go to every race even when times were hard.

“If I can buy them a car – whatever car they want – then they can have it. But I can only do that if I win. You don’t get all the glory and nice stuff by finishing third or second. Without the lottery funding I would probably be in the bike shop and training afterward – it would be a big loss.

“Since I was 12 years old, this has been my dream. This is where I’ve been destined to go. Now I’m here, I’m only going to try harder and get faster to win the Olympics.”
Brother Tre has also excelled in the sport, being named in GB’s cycling team BMX senior squad in 2017.

Kye said: “I’ve always told everybody how I wanted to move to Manchester, like my brother. It’s a massive sacrifice, leaving family and friends.

“They are having fun and I’m here training for a life I might not even live.

Photos by The Wild at Jungle Creations