BMX Freestyle world champion Kieran Reilly on tattoos, tiger comparisons, and his progression: “A lot of it is confidence”

2023 was a year to remember for BMX Freestyler Kieran Reilly, who features in the new Olympic Channel Original Series 'Athletes to Watch'.

In June, the rider from Newcastle started his summer by upgrading his silver medal from the 2022 European Games to win gold at the event in Poland.

Two months later, 22-year-old Reilly clinched an even more prestigious title at the World Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The Briton delivered an emphatic bike throw to finish his second run of the final. He raised his arms above his head. He knew it. This was maybe the best run of his career.

Although, there were still six riders left to go in the competition, Reilly’s game plan had succeeded.

He scored 95.80, which eventually awarded him the distinctive rainbow jersey - as the symbol of being the new world champion.

• 2023 BMX Freestyle World Cup (Park) in Bazhong: Preview, full schedule, and how to watch the competition live
• How to qualify for BMX Freestyle at Paris 2024. The Olympic qualification system explained
• Olympic champion Charlotte Worthington on taking a mental health break from BMX: "We're athletes, we're not robots"

But why did this sudden success come now? Asking Reilly himself, the answer lies in the preparation that has boosted his self-confidence when competing.

**“**I think the progression from attending events to winning events, for me, a lot of it is confidence,” he told Olympics.com. “When I'm home, my mindset has switched. If I'm in here for a session, I'm doing everything that I can to make sure, when I get to a comp, I feel the best that I can.”

“I know myself. When I get to an event, if I've done the right preparation at home, I feel a lot better, and I tend to perform a lot better. So, seeing that correlation just gives me the motivation, when I'm in the park to be like: 'Alright, do we want to get to this event feeling ready to win? Or do we want to get to this event with regrets of what I've done back home?'”

“Using that mentality has just seen a direct change in my results and competition, and it's paid off massively.”

Kieran Reilly: Addicted to adrenalin from an early age

Growing up in Newcastle in North East England, Reilly spent a lot of time at the main hangout spot - the skatepark.

First, he was just watching the older kids doing tricks on their bikes. He wanted to be like them.

At nine years old, he persuaded his parents to get him a BMX bike, and quickly got hooked.

“I think I was definitely addicted to the adrenaline rush,” said Reilly, whose determination and willingness to improve earned him respect by the older kids in the skatepark. “I had this like addiction to the adrenaline and learning new things that made me want to push myself.”

Reilly was first noticed when he at 11 years of age, landing a 720 – two full spins in one jump, over a spine at a skatepark in Glasgow.

Ever since, he has pushed the limit of what is possible on a BMX bike.

“I know I'm going to have the most fun if I'm learning something new and push myself. That addiction to the adrenaline spurred this progression all through my younger ages. Then by the time I figured out what I was doing with this adrenaline and getting new tricks, I was like alright: clearly, I'm enjoying learning because of how it's helping me compete,” Reilly explained.

This approach that the freestyler had as a child, is still key for him today. “I got quite addicted to the adrenalin and learning new things, and it has just never stopped. When I'm in a park, I'm progressing to the best I can be because I enjoy competition, but I'm also doing that because I enjoy the process.”

His eagerness to progress saw him become the first person to perform a triple kick flair – three full backflips with a 180-degree rotation, at the end of 2022. And we will most likely see Reilly keep experimenting with new tricks: “My riding style is definitely a lot of big tricks. I love putting my spin on it. I like to try and have some, what we call style and flow in my runs.”

Kieran Reilly on his tattoos: Hopefully, I can get the rings somewhere

Big tricks and big tattoos. That could be the motto for Kieran Reilly.

At first glance, his striking tattoos are what stands out. His biggest tattoo is on his back - and depicts a tiger.

“Growing up, I just always wanted tigers. Everyone I looked up to, all the athletes were tattooed. My dad got tattoos, and I’ve always loved his. I've always wanted tattoos because it's been the aesthetic of all the people I idolised,” Reilly said.

“The tiger on my back is definitely something I'd like to compare myself to. Having like a bit of a tiger and having that drive, but everything I got was just pretty much for aesthetic purposes.”

In the future that might change, if he qualifies and is selected to represent Great Britain in the French capital this year at the Olympics:

“Hopefully, after Paris 2024 I can get something with a bit more meaning, and get the rings somewhere.”

Reilly will compete at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) that take place in Shanghai from 16 to 19 May and in Budapest from 20 to 23 June 2024, with the aim of earning a quota spot to be eligible for selection to the Great Britain team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

The Olympic Channel series 'Athletes to Watch' is available to watch now, for free, via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

An earlier version of this article was published in October 2023.