Remember the name Cameron Wood: Team USA's next BMX Olympic champion?

Casual observers of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup circuit may have been surprised to see an unfamiliar, new, American name in action this season. But with his impressive run of podiums culminating in his maiden World Cup win last weekend in Bogotá, Colombia, Cameron Wood has firmly planted himself in the consciousness of the BMX world.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a massive breakthrough year at the senior level, earning three World Cup podiums and top-10 finishes at both the USA National Championships and the UCI BMX Racing World Championships.

So much so there are whispers that he could be the natural successor to recently retired Connor Fields, the last American Olympic champion, and succeed at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Montana native, who now lives in the warmer climes of Arizona, has shown the talent and creativity to rise to the top – but who is Cameron Wood?

Cameron Wood: USA's big BMX hope

The signs were always there that Wood was special and could become a star. In his last year at junior level in 2019, Wood won 17 national events and reached the semi-finals of the World Championships. He also represented Team USA at senior elite level that year at the Pan American Games.

Although the pandemic disrupted what should have been his first elite season, Wood was still able to kick on, making his debut at the January 2021 USA BMX Winter Nationals. There, the Mongoose Bicycles BMX team rider beat out seasoned pros like Fields – the Rio 2016 Olympic champ – and France's Joris Daudet to take the title.

A surprise eighth-place finish in the 2021 World Championships final aged 19 had people taking notice of the young American upstart, who has worked with Olympic silver medallist Sam Willoughby as his coach.

Willoughby was the BMX racer Wood idolised growing up, and Wood said in an interview with FatBMX after his Winter Nationals win: "He inspires me even more now. Still have to do a double-take spending time with him and Alise... or even just calling him. Great person and great coach. Never a dull moment with him."

Working with the Australian has paid off for Wood, who has gone on to take two second places and a win on the World Cup this season in addition to a ninth-place classification at this year's World Championships. His results in 2022 have propelled him up the UCI BMX elite rankings, and the 20-year-old is currently ranked seventh in the world – and the top American.

Everything is seemingly on the up for the youngster, who has Paris 2024 firmly in his sights.

Cam Wood: From Montana to Arizona

Wood was born on 16 November 2001 in Montana, where he lived until he turned 16 years old. He began racing BMX aged three at his local BMX track, and won his first U.S. Open 7–8 age-group title when he was just six.

Despite being a successful youth BMX rider in his home state, his family moved to Arizona for the warmer climate and better opportunities in the sport when Wood turned 16.

Wood currently takes online classes to get through college, and being an elite BMX rider has its perks. "BMX racing is a physically demanding sport so I like to use the knowledge I gain from Exercise Science to benefit me," Wood says in his USA BMX profile. 

"Time management is a big thing in college and I think being disciplined with my training throughout the years has prepared me well. My mind approaches school in a very similar way that I approach cycling."

Cameron Wood's BMX advice to live by

Wood has perhaps got to where he has thanks in part to the philosophy he lives and competes by.

That mantra is from American football coach Bill Belichick, who is head coach of the New England Patriots NFL team – "Do your job".

"I absolutely loved competition," Wood told USA Cycling."No matter what it was, I always had to make things competitive. Whether it was school recess or a national BMX race I was going to bring my best effort.

"I think having that mindset as a young kid helped shape who I am today as a person. You can always expect my best effort."

That best effort has already produced impressive results. Maybe it will lead all the way to the Paris 2024 podium.