The fastest eight-year-old BMX rider in the country aiming for the World Championships
An eight-year-old boy who is the fastest BMX rider in his age group in the country and who steered Southwark to this year’s London Youth Games gold is aiming for the World Championships next year.
Jacob Anderson, from Dulwich Village, might never have got on a BMX after a fortuitous day out at Brockwell Park in Lambeth with his mum and dad saw him join a pop-up BMX Easter club.
Now he is the UK champion of BMX racing in his age group after winning the nationals last year, and helped Southwark win gold at the London Youth Games last weekend.
Jacob said: “I love BMXing and am so happy that I joined Brixton BMX Club. It’s my favourite thing to do and I have met so many friends.
“I love racing and want to keep doing well so that one day I can get to the World Championships.”
Jacob’s mum, Nicola Hope, said it was obvious as soon as he joined in with the club he was a “natural”.
It was very clear that he was a natural,” said Nicola. “The coach told us to keep coming to the Brixton BMX sessions after the Easter camp.”
The coach was none other than BMX Olympic gold medallist Kai White’s father, Nigel White.
Jacob trains three to four times a week at the Peckham, Brixton and Merton BMX clubs, and it is paying off, having already added three regional races as an expert rider, plus the South Championships.
He then won the London Winter Racing Series 2021/2022 and at the nationals he won nine out of 10 races, crashing in the one he did not win, with the fastest hill time and fastest lap on two days to boot.
Jacob’s dad, Jake Anderson, said: “Jacob has a real passion for the sport and is excelling at lightning speed. The support from the local clubs in the south region is amazing.
“Jacob’s dreams for the future are to go on to win more titles and hopefully ride in the World Championships next year and, above all else, to keep enjoying riding and racing.”
BMX riders have to be at least nine years old to compete in the World Championships, which Jacob will be in 2023 when they are held in Glasgow.
Nicola added: “He’s gone from strength to strength and he’s top of his game in a year, which is amazing.
“He definitely sees it as a future. He puts so much time, effort and energy into it. He’s so dedicated.”
Nathanial Martin, coach at Brixton BMX, said Brixton BMX Club was founded in 1981 to support young people from Brixton and the surrounding areas stay active while enjoying themselves and keeping safe.