Kristian Larigo: Junior World Champion with Olympic Dreams

Kristian’s journey into track cycling began when he was spotted as a potential track sprinter in 2022. Just three years later, he’s now one of only five boys selected for the British Cycling National School of Racing - a testament to his raw talent and dedication. 

“I was learning to ride my bike up and down Perry Park as a kid watching the BMX track being rebuilt,” Kristian recalled. “My dad said if I learned to ride my bike, he’d take me there as soon as possible. I first got to ride the track when I was five years old.” 

His early BMX career was impressive, earning him a place on the National School of Racing. But after years of the same circuits and a broken wrist ahead of a World Championships, Kristian found himself drawn to something new. 

That "something new" was track cycling, a sport Kristian initially didn’t see himself in. “I used to think Lycra looked goofy,” he laughed.  

But after joining British Cycling’s Talent ID programme following encouragement from his dad, he found a passion for sprinting on the track. “I realised I actually liked it more than BMX, and I’ve just stuck with it since” 

In 2025, Kristian received SportsAid funding through Backing the Best and the impact was immediate for the junior World Champion.  

The demands of elite-level sport have meant his costs for equipment, travel, and accommodation have surged. “There are somethings I literally wouldn’t have been able to do without this backing. 

“I had to buy a new road bike because I couldn’t travel with my current one. I couldn’t have afforded that without SportsAid,” Kristian explains.  

“I’ve also bought a new back wheel, paid for travel and accommodation, it’s helped me do things I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise and helped me achieve so much already.” 

“It helped not just me, but my family too. They’ve had to pay out so much for me over time, so to have this additional funding is huge.” 

SportsAid’s support goes far beyond financial backing.  

Kristian highlights the charity’s athlete workshops and networking opportunities as major confidence boosters.  

“Going to the SportsAid live event was amazing and was great to meet athletes from all different sports. In track, there aren’t many black athletes, so to be go there and see other black kids on their national teams was cool to see. It was inspiring.” 

Representation in sport is something Kristian feels passionately about.  

He said: “There’s not many young black athletes, particularly in track cycling,”  

“I want to be a role model, especially for young black kids. It would be great to see more trying cycling or any other Olympic or Paralympic sport to be honest.” 

Looking ahead, Kristian has big goals in sport, with the Olympics being the headline among them. “I want to go to an Olympics at least once. Winning would be the dream.”  

But no matter where his journey takes him, Kristian wants to give back to the sport. He’s already working towards his Level 1 coaching qualification, hoping to return to the BMX track where it all began and help bring more young riders into the sport. 

For Kristian, SportsAid has been more than just support, it’s been belief. “Someone backing you in this way, even when I didn’t always back myself. That means everything.” 

“There’s so much I wouldn’t be able to do without SportsAid.”