Sienna Pal: Q&A with the ARA Australian Cycling Team

Sienna Pal is leading the charge of young guns making their mark in BMX Racing.

The emerging talent from Terrigal BMX Club shone on the world stage last year, claiming a Junior World Championship silver medal in Glasgow. It was there she showed her resilience, recovering from a crash in the quarter final to earn a spot on the podium.

At just 18 years old, Pal has this year decided to by-pass the Under 23 category and step-up to race in the Elite class.

Already in 2024 she has made the final of a UCI World Cup round, and been selected to make her Elite-level debut for the ARA Australian Cycling Team at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships at Rock Hill, USA next month.

Read on to get to know more about ARA Australian Cycling Team athlete Sienna Pal, or watch the video below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ARA Australian Cycling Team (@auscyclingteam)

Age: 18

What is your home club? Terrigal BMX Club.

What are you streaming? The last thing I watched was Drive to Survive.

What is your go-to meal when cooking at home? My chicken, sweet potato and broccoli that I have for lunch every day.

What do you listen to pre-race to pump yourself up? I like a lot of different songs so I usually just go with what I feel on race day, but it tends to be something upbeat and keeps me in a good mood.

When did you start riding? I started BMX when I was six years old and I just got into it following my eldest brother as he raced and we went to events as a family and just got committed.

What is your favourite track? Sleeman Supercross. Just as it’s longer, more technical and challenges me more.

What are your career highlights? It would be getting silver at Junior World Champs in Glasgow and making my first Elite World Cup final.

What would you be, if you weren't a BMX racer? I'd probably be a dancer or basketball player as I did them for 10 years.

What athlete from another sport would you like to see try BMX Racing? Probably USA’s gymnast Simone Biles because she's pretty strong and that’s key for girls in BMX.

What advice would you give to new riders to the sport? Make sure you have fun and don't worry about being the fastest. Focus on the fundamentals of skills like manuals and jumps. And meeting new people.