Rachel Atherton facts for kids
Rachel Atherton in August 2008
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rachel Laura Atherton | ||
| Nickname | Waynehead | ||
| Born | 6 December 1987 Salisbury, England, United Kingdom |
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| Height | 1.70 m | ||
| Weight | 65 kg | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Atherton Racing | ||
| Discipline | BMX & MTB | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | DH | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Rachel Laura Atherton (born December 6, 1987) is a famous British professional downhill mountain bike racer. She is known for winning many UCI World Championships.
Rachel started riding BMX bikes when she was 8 years old. She then began mountain biking at age 11. In 2005, she was named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year. She also won BBC Midlands Junior Sportswoman of the Year. In 2008, she became the BBC Midlands Sportswoman of the Year. A video of Rachel passing 91 other riders in just five minutes during a race became very popular online in 2015.
Contents
Rachel's Cycling Career
Early Professional Teams
From 2007, Rachel was part of the Animal Commençal race team. Her brothers, Dan Atherton and Gee Atherton, also rode for this team. In 2012, Rachel and her brothers joined GT Bicycles. Later, in 2015, they moved to Trek Bicycle Corporation. They raced together as Trek Atherton Racing. Since 2018, Rachel has been racing for Atherton Bikes, which is her family's own bike company.
Becoming a World Champion
In June 2008, Rachel made history. She became the first British woman to win the Elite UCI Downhill World Championship. She beat the second-place rider, Sabrina Jonnier, by almost 12 seconds.
Overcoming Injuries
In January 2009, Rachel had an accident in Santa Cruz, California. She was hit by a pickup truck while training with her brothers. She dislocated her shoulder, which needed surgery. This injury meant she could not race for the entire 2009 season. This included missing the World Championships.
In 2019, Rachel injured her Achilles tendon during practice. This serious injury kept her from racing for all of the 2020 season.
Record-Breaking Wins
Rachel made a big comeback in September 2012. She won the final World Cup race in Norway. This win helped her secure the overall World Cup title for the season. She won 5 out of the 6 races she competed in that year.
In June 2016, Rachel set a new record. She became the first woman to win 10 World Cup races in a row. This broke the previous record held by Anne-Caroline Chausson. Later that year, she achieved something even more amazing. She won every single round of the World Cup season. This was a first for any rider.
Recent Comeback
After her injury and taking time off, Rachel returned to racing in 2023. She competed at the UCI Downhill World Cup in Lenzerheide. In an incredible return, she won first place.
Rachel's Personal Life
Rachel keeps her special rainbow jerseys in a birdcage. These jerseys are what world champions wear. She says she likes to take them out and remember her winning races.
Rachel became a mother on August 4, 2021. She gave birth to a daughter.
Images for kids
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Rachel Atherton in August 2008
See also
In Spanish: Rachel Atherton para niños
