11 Cape Coral BMX riders compete at BMX World Championship

Author: Zach Oliveri
Published: Updated:

Team USA BMX riders walked down the streets of Rockhill, South Carolina for a parade as part of the UCI BMX World Championship.

“They shut down the city and we paraded through their city to their town square whatever and they had this huge festival for Team USA,” rider Lisa White said. “Of course it stormed but you almost felt famous.”

10 of the riders for Team USA came from Cape Coral BMX. Those riders were Avery Jones, Brandon Unger, Austin Marlowe, Justin Ridell, Wayne Hardman, Jim Bramer, Mike Powers, Ryan Bramer, Lisa White and Ryan Zielinski. Lauren Rodriguez rode for the Columbian national team. Each of the riders received a warm welcome home in Cape Coral with Avery Jones returning with a top world ranking.

“I love the fact that I was able to bring home a world plate,” Jones explained. “They only take top eight and I got sixth in the world. Coming back to cape and representing on my bike a world ranking I mean that’s all I’ve ever wanted in BMX.”

This was Austin Marlowe’s first opportunity to represent Team USA.

“It means everything to me,” Marlowe said. “It’s like everyone’s watching you and you’re the person that everyone looks up to.”

White said this was an experience of a lifetime, “there’s no family like BMX family. I’ve never been in a sports family like BMX family.”

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