Kieran Reilly: Inspiring BMX Rise and Olympic Success

Introduction

Kieran Reilly is a British BMX freestyle cyclist from Gateshead who competes in the men’s BMX Freestyle Park discipline.

He became Britain’s first male BMX Freestyle Park world champion in 2023 before winning a silver medal on his Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

Reilly is also recognised for pushing the technical limits of BMX. His achievements include landing the world’s first triple flair and completing two more world-first tricks during the Red Bull Featured competition in 2025.

As of July 2026, he remains an active member of the Great Britain Cycling Team’s Olympic Podium Programme, confirming his place among Britain’s leading freestyle riders.

Kieran Reilly Quick Facts

Information	Verified Details
Full Name	Kieran Darren David Reilly
Known As	Kieran Reilly
Date of Birth	12 July 2001
Age	24 years old
Birthplace	Gateshead, England
Nationality	British
Profession	Professional BMX freestyle cyclist
Main Discipline	BMX Freestyle Park
Represents	Great Britain
School	Heworth Grange School
Training Base	Corby, Northamptonshire
Olympic Medal	Silver at Paris 2024
World Title	2023 UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Champion
European Games Medal	Gold in 2023
European Championship	Gold in 2024
Famous Trick	World’s first triple flair
Current Programme	Great Britain Olympic Podium Programme
Current Status	Active BMX Freestyle Park rider

Reilly’s full name appears in official Olympic records, while British Cycling confirms his birth date, Gateshead background and elite BMX career.

Who Is Kieran Reilly?

Kieran Reilly is one of the most successful British BMX freestyle riders of his generation.

He performs technical tricks on ramps, quarter pipes, spines, boxes and other park obstacles. Judges assess riders on difficulty, height, creativity, execution, variety and use of the course.

His competitive runs commonly include tailwhips, barspins, flairs, front flips and complex combinations completed several metres above the ground.

Reilly’s career has helped BMX Freestyle Park gain more attention in Britain. His Olympic medal introduced him to a wider audience beyond the traditional action-sports community.

His journey also has a place among other inspiring British athlete profiles because he progressed from a local Gateshead skatepark to world and Olympic podiums.

Early Life in Gateshead

Kieran Reilly was born on 12 July 2001 in the Leam Lane area of Gateshead, North East England.

He grew up in a working-class community and developed a strong connection with his hometown.

His parents, Darren and Leanne, supported his interest in BMX from an early age. After repeatedly asking for a bike, he received a We The People BMX for Christmas when he was eight.

He began spending long periods at Leam Lane skatepark, where older riders helped him understand new tricks and improve his confidence.

Reilly later explained that he became attracted to the adrenaline of learning difficult movements and remained committed to his bike from that point onwards.

Education at Heworth Grange School

Reilly attended Heworth Grange School in Gateshead.

The school publicly welcomed him back in June 2025 as an alumnus, BMX world champion and Olympic silver medallist.

During the visit, he spoke to pupils about school, his BMX development and his journey to European, world and Olympic success.

His education did not lead directly into a traditional professional-sports academy.

Instead, his practical BMX training developed through skatepark sessions, competitions, repeated crashes and the constant process of learning new tricks.

Carpentry Before Full-Time BMX

After leaving school, Reilly trained and worked in carpentry for around three years.

He continued riding while developing practical trade skills, but BMX remained his main passion.

As his performances improved and professional opportunities increased, he was eventually able to become a full-time athlete.

This stage of his life demonstrates that his sporting career was not guaranteed from childhood.

He needed to balance normal work with training before international results, team support and sponsorship made professional BMX possible.

British heavyweight boxer Fabio Wardley also followed an unconventional route into elite sport, although his journey developed through white-collar boxing rather than freestyle cycling.

First BMX Competition

Reilly entered his first competitive event at the Urban Games in Whitley Bay when he was 11.

He fell during his run, but the experience increased rather than damaged his confidence.

Later that year, he attracted attention by completing a 720 over a spine at a Glasgow skatepark.

A 720 requires the rider and bike to complete two full rotations during one jump.

Performing the trick at such a young age showed his unusual aerial control and willingness to attempt movements that were advanced for his level.

Moving to Corby for Better Training

Reilly later moved from the North East to Corby in Northamptonshire.

The move gave him regular access to Adrenaline Alley, one of Britain’s leading indoor action-sports facilities.

Training in Corby also allowed him to work beside other Great Britain riders and use ramps designed for elite BMX progression.

Leaving Gateshead was a major personal decision, but the North East did not provide the same level of year-round specialist facilities.

British Cycling continues to list Gateshead as his hometown and Corby as his professional base.

The discipline required to relocate and pursue a sporting career can also be seen in the journey of professional footballer Tom White, who progressed through loans, injuries and several levels of English football.

World’s First Triple Flair

Reilly entered the BMX record books in January 2022 when he landed the world’s first triple flair.

The trick combines three complete backflips with a 180-degree rotation.

Red Bull supported the project by helping to create a specialist ramp setup at Asylum Skatepark in Nottinghamshire.

The additional height and speed were necessary because a triple flair requires more rotation than the already difficult double flair.

Reilly experienced repeated failed attempts and heavy landings before successfully completing the movement.

The achievement gave him international recognition and showed that he was not only a competition rider but also an athlete capable of advancing the technical limits of BMX.

Breakthrough European Medal in 2022

Reilly enjoyed his first major international championship success at the 2022 European Championships in Munich.

He won silver in the men’s BMX Freestyle Park event.

The result was important because it showed that his world-first trick ability could be transferred into a judged competition run.

Freestyle riders must combine difficult tricks into a smooth routine while avoiding falls and using different areas of the course.

His Munich medal established him as a leading European rider and prepared him for a much stronger 2023 season.

X Games Bronze Medal

Reilly competed at his first X Games in Japan in May 2023.

He earned a bronze medal in BMX Park.

The X Games has played an important role in the development of freestyle BMX and brings together many of the sport’s most creative riders.

Winning a medal at his first appearance strengthened Reilly’s international reputation before his European Games and World Championship campaigns.

European Games Gold in 2023

Reilly represented Great Britain at the 2023 European Games in Kraków, Poland.

He scored 92.33 in his second run to win the men’s BMX Freestyle Park gold medal.

The result made him the first man to win a BMX Freestyle Park gold medal for Team GB at the European Games.

His British teammate Declan Brooks completed the podium in third place.

Reilly’s winning routine demonstrated a major improvement from the European silver he had earned one year earlier.

Cricketers such as Arafat Minhas compete in a different sporting environment, but their progress also depends on turning early promise into dependable performances under international pressure.

Becoming World Champion in Glasgow

The defining achievement of Reilly’s early career came at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.

Competing in front of friends, family and a home crowd, he produced a second-run score of 95.80.

The performance placed him ahead of Olympic champion Logan Martin and American rider Nick Bruce.

Reilly became Britain’s first male BMX Freestyle Park world champion.

The victory earned him the rainbow jersey worn by cycling world champions and confirmed that his European Games success was not an isolated result.

He completed the year by winning his first British national BMX freestyle title at Asylum Skatepark.

Qualifying for the Paris Olympics

BMX Freestyle Park became an Olympic event at Tokyo 2020, but Paris 2024 was Reilly’s first Games.

He competed in the Olympic Qualifier Series and finished third at the Shanghai event.

His results helped secure his selection for Team GB.

Reilly entered Paris as the reigning world champion and one of the leading medal contenders.

He strengthened that position by finishing first in Olympic qualification with the best average score in the men’s field.

Paris 2024 Olympic Silver Medal

The men’s BMX Freestyle Park final took place at La Concorde in central Paris on 31 July 2024.

Reilly scored 93.70 in his first run, placing him behind Argentina’s José Torres Gil.

French rider Anthony Jeanjean later moved ahead of Reilly, increasing the pressure before the British rider’s final attempt.

Reilly responded with a more difficult second run that included a 360 double whip, flair whip and 720 double tailwhip.

His score improved to 93.91, moving him back into second place.

Torres Gil won gold with 94.82, while Jeanjean earned bronze with 93.76.

Reilly therefore completed his Olympic debut with a silver medal and one of the most important results in British BMX history.

British and European Titles in 2024

Reilly maintained his strong form after the Olympic Games.

At the British National BMX Freestyle Championships, he scored 96.40 to defeat Jordan Clark and Reef Way.

His routine included tailwhips, handlebar spins, front flips and his signature double flair.

He also won the elite men’s title at the 2024 UEC BMX Freestyle Park European Championships in Switzerland.

Reilly then finished fifth at the 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Abu Dhabi while attempting to defend his rainbow jersey.

Although he did not win a second world title, the result completed a season containing Olympic, national and European medals.

Long international careers require the same patience seen in experienced cricketers such as Taijul Islam, even though the physical and technical demands of BMX are very different.

Two More World-First Tricks in 2025

Reilly returned to record-breaking form at Red Bull Featured in Manchester on 12 April 2025.

The competition used an unusual format that encouraged riders to attempt new tricks without being heavily punished for unsuccessful efforts.

Reilly landed two world-first combinations:

• A 720 triple tailwhip
• A 540 triple tailwhip to barspin

He finished first in the men’s competition ahead of Logan Martin and Kenneth Tencio.

More than 2,000 spectators attended the event, where riders completed 11 world-first tricks across the men’s and women’s contests.

The victory showed that Reilly remained focused on technical progression after reaching the Olympic podium.

2025 European Championship Crash

Reilly represented Great Britain at the 2025 European Championships in Eindhoven.

He qualified for the final in third position.

During his first final run, he completed a strong sequence of tricks before going over the handlebars on his final movement.

The fall ended his competition, and medical staff assessed him at the venue.

British Cycling reported that he was recovering well following the incident.

His teammate Dylan Hessey went on to win the men’s European title.

Kieran Reilly’s Current Status in 2026

Kieran Reilly remains an active Great Britain Cycling Team rider in 2026.

British Cycling’s squad list, updated in January 2026, includes him in the men’s BMX Freestyle section of the Olympic Podium Programme.

He appears alongside Jordan Clark, Dylan Hessey and Jude Jones.

This is the programme used to support athletes capable of delivering medals at major international competitions.

His continued inclusion confirms that he remains part of Britain’s elite BMX plans during the Olympic cycle leading towards Los Angeles 2028.

Readers can verify his present team position through the official British Cycling squad list.

Kieran Reilly’s Riding Style

Reilly is known for power, height and technical difficulty.

He uses speed to gain significant air above ramps, giving himself enough time to complete several rotations or bike movements.

His strongest routines include a mixture of flips, tailwhips, barspins and transfers.

He does not depend on one signature trick throughout an entire run.

Instead, he tries to combine difficult movements while maintaining flow and using different sections of the course.

His muscular and explosive riding style also helps him control the bike during high-impact landings.

How BMX Freestyle Park Is Judged

A BMX Freestyle Park run normally lasts around 60 seconds.

Riders perform across a course containing ramps, boxes, spines, walls and transitions.

Judges consider several connected elements:

• Difficulty of the tricks
• Height and speed
• Originality and creativity
• Variety of movements
• Use of the complete course
• Control and clean landings
• Flow between different obstacles

One fall can significantly affect a rider’s result.

Competitors must therefore balance risk with the need to complete a clean routine.

Reilly’s best performances stand out because he combines world-level difficulty with the control required to finish full competition runs.

Training, Strength and Recovery

Elite BMX freestyle requires more than time on a bike.

Reilly uses strength training to improve power, stability and protection during heavy landings.

Core strength helps him control his body and bike while rotating in the air.

Leg strength supports acceleration and allows him to generate height from ramps.

Recovery is equally important because repeated attempts create pressure on the ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders and lower back.

Reilly has also worked on the mental side of competition with sports psychologist Rich Hampson.

This support helps him manage fear, prepare consistent routines and break difficult tricks into smaller steps.

Kieran Reilly’s Major Achievements

Year	Achievement
2012	Landed a 720 at the age of 11
2022	Completed the world’s first triple flair
2022	Won European Championship silver
2023	Earned X Games Japan bronze
2023	Won European Games gold
2023	Became UCI BMX Freestyle Park world champion
2023	Won his first British national title
2024	Finished third at the Shanghai Olympic Qualifier Series
2024	Won British national championship gold
2024	Won Olympic silver at Paris 2024
2024	Won the UEC European Championship
2024	Finished fifth at the UCI World Championships
2025	Won Red Bull Featured
2025	Landed two world-first BMX combinations
2026	Remained on Great Britain’s Olympic Podium Programme

Why Kieran Reilly’s Career Stands Out

Reilly did not become successful only because he could perform one unusual trick.

He converted technical progression into medals at national, European, world and Olympic level.

His career includes world-first tricks, but it also includes complete competition runs delivered under major pressure.

The move from Gateshead to Corby showed his willingness to make personal sacrifices for better training.

His Paris performance also demonstrated resilience because he improved his score after being pushed into third place during the final.

These qualities make him an important figure in modern British action sport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kieran Reilly?

He is a British professional BMX cyclist who competes in BMX Freestyle Park.

What is Kieran Reilly’s full name?

His full name is Kieran Darren David Reilly.

How old is Kieran Reilly?

He is 24 years old as of July 1, 2026, and will turn 25 on July 12.

When was Kieran Reilly born?

He was born on 12 July 2001.

Where is Kieran Reilly from?

He is from the Leam Lane area of Gateshead, England.

Where did Kieran Reilly go to school?

He attended Heworth Grange School in Gateshead.

Where does Kieran Reilly train?

He is based in Corby, Northamptonshire, where he has trained at major indoor BMX facilities.

Did Kieran Reilly win an Olympic medal?

Yes. He won the men’s BMX Freestyle Park silver medal at Paris 2024.

What score did Kieran Reilly receive at the Olympics?

His best final score was 93.91.

Is Kieran Reilly a world champion?

Yes. He won the 2023 UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Championship in Glasgow.

What is Kieran Reilly’s famous trick?

He became the first rider to land a triple flair on a BMX.

What world-first tricks did he complete in 2025?

He landed a 720 triple tailwhip and a 540 triple tailwhip to barspin.

Is Kieran Reilly still competing?

Yes. He is included in the Great Britain Cycling Team’s 2026 Olympic Podium Programme.

Conclusion

Kieran Reilly has progressed from a local skatepark in Gateshead to the highest levels of international BMX.

His journey began with a Christmas bike, long sessions at Leam Lane and an early 720 that revealed his potential.

Moving to Corby gave him access to elite facilities and helped him develop the power, control and creativity needed for professional competition.

The world’s first triple flair made him internationally famous, but his European Games gold, world championship title and Paris 2024 silver medal proved that he could also succeed under championship pressure.

His two world-first tricks in 2025 showed that he continues to push BMX forward.

With a confirmed place on the 2026 Great Britain Olympic Podium Programme, Reilly remains one of the leading British BMX Freestyle Park riders of the current Olympic cycle.e.