BMX ace Ross Cullen has big ambitions as he heads to Argentina next month for the Youth Olympics

Ambitious BMX race ace Ross Cullen is hoping his selection for next month's Youth Olympics is a sign of even bigger things to come.
Ross Cullen
Photograph: Alex Broadway/SWpix.comRoss Cullen
Photograph: Alex Broadway/SWpix.com
Ross Cullen Photograph: Alex Broadway/SWpix.com

The 17-year-old was named in the 42-strong GB team which will be heading to Buenos Aires – the capital of Argentina – for the prestigious event.

For Cullen – a two-time former world junior champion – the Games will mark the biggest moment of his young career so far.

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However, the former St Michael CE High School pupil – whose biking skills have been developed by Preston Pirates – is eager that his appearance at the Youth Olympics will be the precursor to competing at a senior Games in years to come.

“I am really happy to be selected for the Youth Olympics,” Cullen told the Post. “I feel privileged to be on the team and get selected to go.

“My event has an age category of 17/18 and I’m on the younger side of that.

“The Youth Olympics runs on a four year cycle so a lot of people will miss out on the opportunity to go because they will be either too young or too old.

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“It means so much to be selected and I’m excited to put the GB

jersey on and get out there and race.

“But I can’t think that just because I have been selected for the Youth

Olympics that I have ‘made it’.

“I have to look at it as a stepping stone for competing at the Olympics in years to come.”

Cullen, who could take part in the next Olympics in Tokyo 2020 although the one in Paris four years later is more realistic, believes he has every chance of winning a medal.

“The aim is to win gold,” he said. “We have got to make sure we get out there, prepare right and acclimatise to the conditions.”