Arabic version: تاهليا مارش تحرز لقب العالم في فئة بي إم إكس كروزر

According to ABC News, Grafton BMX rider Tahlia Marsh has been crowned the 17-25 Women’s Cruiser Class World No. 1 after winning at the 2026 BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane. The 23-year-old, a six-time Australian champion from the Clarence Valley, won the final after taking victory in all six of her earlier heats.

Marsh said the achievement followed a difficult path shaped by the cost of competing. She had not raced for a world title since 2019 because of financial restrictions, saying the sport’s high costs had prevented her from attending the events. She works as a support worker in Grafton while managing a mortgage, university studies and full-time training.

Born in Grafton, Marsh began riding BMX at seven alongside her two older brothers and started competing at nine in the Clarence Valley. She said living in a small country town limited opportunities and meant she often trained alone, making motivation difficult. Her goal before travelling to Brisbane had been to return with a podium finish.

Marsh said BMX can be hard for riders without sponsorship because they cannot make a living from the sport. She estimated high-spec carbon-fibre bikes can cost about $10,000, though she said a Brisbane bike shop sponsor had helped her. Her partner, Jamal Laurie, said she had worked nearly every day in the months before the championships and described the crowd and her family’s reaction during the final as “just pure joy”.

After winning every race on the day before the final, Marsh said she began to believe she could win. Looking ahead, she said there was always an Olympic goal, while she also hopes to compete in the United States in November at an event known as “the greatest race on earth”.