Ivet Miculyčová: The Rising Star of BMX Freestyle
Ivet Miculyčová, a talented young athlete from Kostelec nad Orlicí, has quickly made a name for herself in the world of BMX freestyle. But her journey to success was not a straightforward one. Before discovering her passion for BMX, Miculyčová was involved in athletics and football. She even played for the youth team of Hradec Králové and represented the Czech Republic in the under-15 national team.
However, everything changed when she hopped on a bike and started learning tricks in a bike park. Miculyčová’s natural talent for BMX freestyle immediately caught the attention of those around her. In 2019, at just fourteen years old, she became the first Czech woman to perform a backflip trick in a competition.
Since then, Miculyčová has achieved remarkable success. She won the European Championships in both 2020 and 2021 and brought home a bronze medal from the World Championships in 2022. Now, as a student studying fire protection at the Secondary Chemical Industrial School in Pardubice, she dreams of competing in the Olympic Games in Paris. To help her achieve this goal, she has enlisted the support of Czech bike legend Michael Beran.
Beran believes that Miculyčová has extraordinary potential and talent. He is confident that she not only has the ability to qualify for the Olympics but also to achieve significant success there. Miculyčová’s partnership with Sazka, a Czech betting company focused on supporting talent in lesser-known sports, has allowed her to hire a conditioning coach and physiotherapist, as well as participate in training camps abroad.
Despite her achievements, Miculyčová faced challenges at this year’s World Championships. A fall during the final run prevented her from reaching her full potential. However, experts agree that with more time to adapt to the size and difficulty of the obstacles, she will be even more formidable in future competitions. To ensure her continued growth, Miculyčová plans to attend training camps abroad, with her dream destination being the American Woodward facility.
Thanks to the support of Sazka, Miculyčová now has access to new opportunities. She and Beran are developing a training program for the coming months, including training camps in England and other locations. In the following weeks, she will compete in Switzerland and China, which are crucial for Olympic qualification.
Miculyčová’s determination and dedication are evident in her pursuit of excellence. She aims to follow in Beran’s footsteps and create her own signature trick. With the addition of fitness coach Matěj Rajnoch, a former conditioning coach for Hradec Králové football team, Miculyčová is confident that her physical preparation will propel her forward. Strength and agility are crucial for BMX racing, and she aims to maintain peak performance throughout the intense minute-long runs.
Competing against powerhouse countries like the USA, China, Great Britain, and Australia is no easy feat. In the recent World Championships, Czech female riders placed from second to sixth. The sport of BMX freestyle has evolved significantly since Beran’s early days, with riders now supported by trainers, mechanics, physiotherapists, and even chefs. Nevertheless, Miculyčová remains undeterred and is determined to make her mark on the international stage.
The rise of Ivet Miculyčová in BMX freestyle is a testament to her talent, hard work, and unwavering dedication. As she continues to push boundaries and strive for excellence, she is undoubtedly a rising star in the world of extreme sports.