The community of KwaMashu celebrated with Ryan Gilchrist from Australia who received the World Championship title at the Velosolutions Pump Track World Championships.

THE GO!Durban Academy in KwaMashu was filled to capacity with local and international spectators witnessing the 2024 Velosolutions Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Pump Track World Championships Finals recently. This international event brought together the best cyclists from more than 20 countries with 60 international riders and four local cyclists participating. This was the first ever UCI Pump Track World Championships Final that was hosted in a township with the KwaMashu GO!Durban Academy Park selected to host. The championships featured challenging pump track courses for both men and women with the Top 16, Top 8, and finals stages.

In the men’s category, Ryan Gilchrist from Australia received the World Championship title, with AJ Donald also from Australia in second place and Alec Bob from the United States of America taking third place. For the women’s final, Sabina Košárková from the Czech Republic took the World Champion title with Nadine Aeberhard from Switzerland coming in second, and Vineta Petersone from Slovakia in third place. For locals, one of the most encouraging aspects of the UCI Pump Track World Championship were the community-based cycling races that were hosted a week prior to the main event. Through the township series; Mhlengi Gogo, Thuthukani Sphelele Qwabe, Lefati Mzimela, and Lithemba Buthelezi from the KwaDabeka GO!Durban Academy secured their spot and qualified to compete at the Championships Finals event.