Episode 9: Nikita Ducarroz, Freestyle BMX athlete, Olympic medallist and mental health advocate
Nikita Ducarroz is an incredible Freestyle BMX athlete, European champion, Olympic Bronze Medallist and Red Bull sponsored athlete. The sheer style she brings to her riding is impressive, and her list of accolades demonstrates that she's an athlete at the top of her game.
She's also notable for her open and honest representation of life as an elite rider, and the lows as well as highs that go with that. In this episode, she explains how her start in BMX was anything but conventional. From the age of 13 she started to suffer severe anxiety attacks that ultimately saw her stop going to school, and barely leaving the house.
Then she discovered BMX, and she credits it with saving her life.
Nikita shares her story, from riding in her front yard to gradually participating in events and competitions further from home, building to the incredible place she's in today. But she's also open about the fact that anxiety doesn't go away, what she does to manage it, and why she set up MindTricks to help other athletes open up about mental health.
She also talks about the impact of Freestyle BMX becoming an Olympic sport and what that's meant for women riders, and what her plans are for 2023 and beyond.
In fact, if you’re planning on coming to the BMX Park event at the 2023 Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, you may well see her in action!