REYNOLDS Lauren

General
MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
She moved to the United States of America in 2013. "I first visited America for a World Cup in 2009 with the Australian cycling team. A few years later in 2013 I moved there to chase the dream and race full time. I am based out of Southern California which is the hub for BMX racing." (Raytown BMX Facebook page, 18 Jan 2021; asf.org.au, 05 Dec 2017)

NO RETIREMENT
She says her coach Sam Willoughby was influential in her decision to keep competing after Cycling Australia decided not to renew her contract in 2017. "In August 2017, Cycling Australia called to tell me they wouldn't be renewing my contract and it's time I retire, and provided me with the details of the people to start my exit plan with. Two days after this phone call I sat down with Sam, and we set out a three-year plan, to basically completely start over. I had sponsors who wanted to back me, I had the motivation to prove this to myself, and I said I'd see them in 2020. Knowing I have Sam in my corner, sponsors in my corner, and knowing I'm far from retirement, this was more than enough to want this more than I ever have." (uci.org, 28 Apr 2020)

EARLY DAYS
She says she developed her fearlessness from a young age when she and her brother built a homemade ramp on a jetty to launch themselves into a river. They attached milk cartons to their bikes to avoid them sinking. "We'd just charge at it in our bathers [swimsuits], get some pretty solid air and jump into the water. The bike would float back up and we'd pull it out and do it all again. They were some of the best memories I have and it probably represents the attitude I have on a bike and my passion for it. I certainly didn't think back then that this is what I'd be doing. I was a bit of a nutter [crazy] but that's what's made me who I am today." (yahoo.com, 02 Jul 2012)

TATTOO
She has a small 'BMX' tattoo on the side of her hip. (olympics.com.au, 10 Jul 2012)

At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo she will become the first Australian BMX rider to compete at three editions of the Olympic Games. (xinhuanet.com, 17 Jun 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 23 Jul 2021)