Rico Bearman

(19) BMX ATHLETE

Former Westlake Boys student and North Harbour BMX club member Rico Bearman started in the Sport of BMX at four years old. He loved it from those first pedals and has never looked back. He now has five World Championship Titles, two World Cup wins, a second placing in World Cup overall series and 10 National Championship BMX titles. He is currently New Zealand’s highest Olympic points scorer pushing to qualify for a spot in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Rico’s five world titles have been won all over the world. In Australia, South Africa, Holland, England and Belgium. He says 2022 was an all-time career high, winning the two World Cup titles in Scotland and Colombia. He made seven out of eight World Cup finals in 2022. The consistent World Cup campaign meant he finished second for the UCI World Cup season. On the American ProCircuit he made five Pro Men finals with one podium finish.

Rico says he has always had one main goal, the Olympics – since the day he was old enough to understand what they were. He’s focused on the 2024 Olympics and also winning the 2023 Under 23 World Championship and World Cup overall series.

AIMES Award grant funds are going to impact Rico’s Olympic campaign hugely, as they will support him being able to fly to races around the world to better his points and provide the best preparation possible leading into the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

Rico says that financially chasing these races around the world is not easy as flights and travel comes with a high expense. “Receiving this award is going to help me significantly to chasing my childhood dream of racing for an Olympic medal.”

Since applying for the award and meeting with the judges, Rico has managed to win the 2023 New Zealand Elite (open men’s) BMX National title!