BMX race ace Ross Cullen finished 10th at Youth Olympics

The 17-year-old biker finished 10th with his partner Elissa Bradford in the mixed BMX Team event.

Russia’s Varvara Ovchinnikova and Ilia Beskrovvny took gold in the 16-team event which was full of thrills, spills and nerve-shredding drama.

Completing the podium behind them were Switzerland’s Kevin Schunk and Zoe Claessens in second.

Juan Camilo Ramirez Valencia and Gabriela Bolle Carrillo, of Colombia, took bronze.

Former world junior champion Cullen was one of the fancied riders but a slow start meant he found it difficult to recover and eventually finished in seventh.

“Sometimes the racing doesn’t go to plan but I was still happy with some of the laps I put in and pretty happy with my overall performance,” he said.

“I was feeling good going in to the final, the hot weather and the short rest didn’t help but I was still confident that I was capable but BMX can be such a savage sport and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”

Meanwhile, Cullen has spoken of his pride at being his country’s flagbearer at the Opening ceremony on Saturday.

“It’s an honour to have been selected for the Youth Olympics and represent BMX but it’s even more special to be chosen as Flagbearer,” said Cullen.

“I’ve loved being here. Even just getting off the plane and seeing all the buses branded up and then walking into the village for the first time – it’s quite surreal actually.

“The atmosphere here has been amazing and I’ve met so many different athletes from all around the world.”