Batemans Bay BMX rider Leah Hearne has the world at her feet.
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After a successful ACT State Championships last weekend, Hearne is traveling to Bunbury, WA for the Australian Championships in the Junior Elite class.
It follows a 2017 season that saw her win three state titles to go with a national title in the 17-24 women’s cruiser division.
Considering this is her first nationals in her new class, Hearne doesn’t know what to expect.
“I don’t really have any expectations on myself, just because it’s such a new thing,” she said.
“I haven’t been in elite for very long, so I just wanna go over there, ride the best I can, ride smooth, ride fast and see where that takes me.”
The time she gives back to the sport, back to the kids. She’s a bit of a unique soul in that way.
- Andrew Hearne
Leah has been riding bikes for as long as she can remember, but only started on a BMX bike eight years ago. Her father Andrew said it wasn’t long before they could see her potential.
“We knew she could ride a bike, that was never going to be an issue,” he said. “There were some high-up coaches that could see some ability there.”
That ability has led to three world championships, as well as a number of state and national titles. Last year’s World Championships in South Carolina were meant to be Leah’s chance at a final, but a unfortunate crash in the semi-final ended that dream.
Mr Hearne understands the dangerous nature of the sport, but said his wife was more likely to hide her eyes.
“Leah has certainly had her stints in hospital and ambulance trips,” he said. “She spent a night in an American hospital during the World Championships.
“I get more nervous about how she feels, her expectations. It’s a sport where you can go from hero to zero in no time at all.”
In a perfect world, I would be competing at World Championships in elite level.
- Leah Hearne
The crash in America was heartbreaking, but Leah understands it’s part of the sport she has chosen.
“The things we put our body through out there; crashing, hitting the floor, breaking bones,” she said.
“I’ve had two big crashes. I had the one in America were I knocked myself out for quite a while. I also had a crash at Hawkesbury where I dislocated cartilage up under my ribs and bent them all out.”
Mr Hearne said that while riding is a big part of what makes his daughter great, her off-track work is just as important.
“Probably the biggest thing that makes us proud is not so much the results, but the attitude she has towards other people,” he said.
“The time she gives back to the sport, back to the kids. She’s a bit of a unique soul in that way.
“I know the current President of BMX Australia Neil Cameron has seen that in her.”
Leah’s focus is still on the track though, and praises the new wave of elite women at growing the sport around the country.
“We’ve had a big increase in girls in the sport,” she said. “About four years ago, my age group was tiny because it was seen as a guys sport.
“Now it’s in the Olympics, it’s just brought so many girls into the sport.”
And while the numbers of riders in the sport continues to grow, it hasn’t stopped Leah setting her goals high.
“In a perfect world, I would be competing at World Championships in elite level,” she said.
Leah has experienced success all over the world, but still holds a soft spot for the Batemans Bay BMX Club.
“It’s the first track I ever rode on,” she said.
“I love it down here, it’s so much fun.”
