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Hyougai Kiuchi is a BMX racing athlete who is active as a recipient of the second JPF Scholarship.

I started competing in BMX racing when I was six years old, after encountering it at Cycing sports center and thinking, "I want to jump like that too." In 2017, I made my debut at the World Championships, and realizing the huge gap between myself and the world's best motivated me to aim for an even higher level. Currently, I continue to challenge myself with the goal of competing on the world's highest stage.

In this interview, we spoke with him about the appeal of BMX, his passion for the sport, and the personal growth he experienced through the JPF scholarship.

The appeal of BMX lies in its sense of speed and strategy.

—What do you like about BMX?

Kiuchi-san:
The appeal of BMX lies in the sense of speed during races and the strategic maneuvering between riders.

What makes it exciting is that you don't know who will get overtaken until the very end, whether you'll be overtaken or not. Also, it feels great when you successfully execute a jump or manual, and I really enjoy the time I spend trying big jumps during practice or working on challenges with my teammates.

World Championships where I felt the gap between myself and the rest of the world.

—What inspired you to seriously pursue BMX?

Kiuchi-san:
My first appearance at the World Championships held in the United States in 2017 was a major turning point for me.

Before competing, I thought, "Maybe I can do pretty well," but when I actually ran with athletes from around the world, I felt a huge gap between myself and them.

That experience made me strongly desire to become a world-class athlete, and I began to take the sport seriously.

My goal is to stand on the world's most prestigious stage.

--What are your current goals?

Kiuchi-san:
My goal is to compete on the world's most prestigious stage.

I think it's a stage that many people involved in sports aspire to, and I believe there's great significance in competing in this special tournament, which only happens once every four years, as a representative of Japan.

I want to continue working hard towards that goal.

My perspective broadened through scholarship activities.

—Do you feel you have grown through the JPF scholarship?

Kiuchi-san:
One method is posting on social media every month.

Sharing the appeal of cycling and what I'm working on has given me an opportunity to reconsider the fun and value of cycling.

Another activity is teaching at the school held at Chiba JPF Dome.

Up until now, I've largely relied on my intuition to continue competing, but now that I'm in a position to teach children, I've realized how difficult it is to put my feelings into words and convey them to them.

On the other hand, I also find it rewarding to be able to directly convey the enjoyment I feel about cycling.

Creating an environment where you can concentrate on the competition

— Are there any times when you feel glad you received a scholarship?

Kiuchi-san:
I mainly used the scholarship to cover weekend course fees and out-of-pocket expenses for overseas trips.

Being able to create a good daily training environment further increased my motivation for the sport, and I was able to take on the challenge of achieving results during overseas expeditions with a strong desire to succeed.

Being able to showcase the results of my daily training in an overseas race was a valuable experience for me.

"The first step is to give it a try."

-- Do you have a message for the athletes who will be applying for scholarships in the future?

Kiuchi-san:
I think it's important to try out a variety of things.

Sometimes, things you initially thought you were bad at can turn out to be surprisingly fun or contribute to your personal growth once you try them.

I believe that even difficult challenges can lead to new discoveries, so I encourage you to try many different things.

To places where people take up BMX

--Finally, do you have a message for the children who are working hard at BMX?

Kiuchi-san:
When I was little, I often didn't win.

But because I never forgot the joy of cycling and kept going, I am where I am today.

Rather than just chasing results, I hope you'll prioritize enjoying cycling and keep challenging yourself without giving up. Let's do our best together!

JPF (Japan Professional Cycling Federation) conducts scholarship programs with the aim of promoting and developing cycling and nurturing the next generation of athletes. We will continue to support young athletes like Ms. Kiuchi who continue to challenge themselves in competitions, promote the appeal of cycling, and work to pass it on to the next generation.

■Hyoga Kiuchi Profile