Natalya Diehm
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Natalya Diehm |
| Born | 23 September 1997 Gladstone, Queensland, Australia |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | BMX |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Freestyle |
Natalya Diehm (born 23 September 1997) is an Australian cyclist who competes in Freestyle BMX.
Diehm was born in Gladstone, Queensland and grew up in nearby Boyne Island.[1]
Diehm finished 6th at the 2019 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships at Australia's first appearance in the event. In 2019 she won the inaugural Oceania Championships as well as winning the Australian national title.[2] In total she has three national titles.[3]
After recovering from her fourth knee reconstruction in late 2018, Diehm was discouraged from pursuing her Olympic ambitions and almost left the sport.[4] However, she received motivation from BMX racing world champion and Olympian Caroline Buchanan who contacted Diehm to offer encouragement and support which prompted Diehm to continue.[4]
Diehm made history as one of Australia's first Olympic BMX freestylers when the discipline made its Games debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.[5] As the only two Australian BMX freestylers selected, Diehm became the first Australian woman to compete in the women's event while Logan Martin will become the first Australian man to compete in the men's event.[6][7] Diehm reached the women's freestyle final, but finished fifth.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ Berlin, Lachlan (18 June 2021). "CQ-born BMX rider's historic Olympic selection". The Observer. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Natalya Diehm | Profile". Australian Cycling Team.
- ^ "Bike Check with Natalya Diehm". The Bloom BMX. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ a b Vaughan, Roger (30 December 2019). "One phone call changed Diehm's BMX fate". The Canberra Times. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "'So surreal' for first time Olympian". NewsComAu. 16 June 2021.
- ^ Jurss-Lewis, Tobias; Culliver, Paul (19 June 2021). "Natalya Diehm to pedal for a medal at Tokyo Olympics as Australia's first female freestyle BMX competitor". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Finch-Penninger, Jamie (17 June 2021). "World champ Martin set to shine as Freestyle BMX debuts at Tokyo Olympics". SBS News. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 10 November 2021.