Britain's Shanaze Reade is targeting a golden double in the BMX and track events at the London 2012 Olympics.

The three-time world BMX champion saw her medal hopes at the Beijing Olympics ended when she crashed near the finish.

Reade has enjoyed success on the track, winning two world team sprint titles with Victoria Pendleton, but had been expected to focus on BMX at 2012.

"Competing on the BMX and on the track in 2012 has always been my dream," said the 22-year-old from Crewe.

Reade missed out on his year's Track World Championships in Copenhagen but is hoping to rekindle her partnership with Pendleton in the build-up to 2012.

"Next year I want to include track cycling in the whole picture again," she said.

"That will mean I have the track World Championships and the BMX World Championships in the same year. It should be a packed year but it will be OK.

"The track comes first in the plan for the Olympics in London, which is great because it gives me a good run through to the BMX event which happens a week and a half later. It couldn't fit more perfect so I'll go for both.

"If I can go to London and create a bit of history then that will be amazing. If I get a silver or a bronze, if I've given my best that's all I can do."

Reade was favourite to win the inaugural BMX gold at Beijing in 2008 but took a nasty tumble when she gambled on overtaking race leader Ann-Caroline Chausson on the inside of the final bend, injuring her shoulder, pelvis and sciatic nerve.

The move was criticised at the time and earlier this year, Reade's former mentor and Olympic gold medallist Jamie Staff said she needed to 'grow up'.

Reade insisted she had done just that, adding: "Jamie hadn't seen me for two years when he made that point. I have matured a lot since then and turned into a young woman.

"I know that I'm already on that path to where I want to go and if Jamie isn't happy about that then I'm sorry but this is my path and my career."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version