BMX racing world championships hit South Carolina with Olympic berths on the line

The almost nomadic nature of high-level BMX racing means that American riders such as Alise Willoughby, the two-time world champion and a former Olympic silver medalist, rarely get to compete in front of friends and family.

Last year’s World Cup schedule took riders to Turkey, the Netherlands, France and Argentina.

But in an almost serendipitous bit of scheduling fortune, Willoughby and her American teammates have the opportunity to ride not once but twice on home soil this year. They competed in a World Cup in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a few weeks ago, and this weekend they are in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for the world championships.

“Just an awesome, awesome opportunity,” said Willoughby, who is hoping to compete in her fourth Summer Olympics later this year. “It’s a different pressure, different sort of thing. You’re not used to having all the family and friends, and like, it’s almost like I have to focus on my job. But it’s really good to be able to have more people able to watch.”