Tokyo gold medalist Bethany Shriever says she got “goosebumps” when joining a raft of British Olympic heroes to record a new inspirational team talk video.
And the BMX racing star, who overcame major adversity to triumph in Japan three years ago, believes she is "up to the challenge" to win a second Olympic title as the countdown to the Paris Games ramps up.
Shriever joined cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, rowing star Helen Glover and gymnastics champion Max Whitlock to film a motivational video with Team GB partner NatWest that will be played at their base in the Olympic village. But it has also been made with a view to inspire us mere mortals towards achieving our own personal goals.
And Shriever said: “It was so important to me to be involved. I loved every second of the filming, the reasoning behind it. It was so motivating. The final edit gave me goosebumps. It's been so cool to get a little insight into every one's journey.”
Shriever took a long and complicated route to Tokyo gold. Having lost out on funding from British Cycling, she worked part-time as a teaching assistant in Essex and set up a Crowdfunder page to raise money to pay for trips to qualifying races.
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She has since been picked back up for funding, which has allowed her to perform as a full-time athlete.
And the 24-year-old provided one of the most memorable moments of the delayed Tokyo Games when winning gold moments after Kye White triumphed in the men’s event.
“It was hard,” Shriever reflected of her journey towards the Games. “Obviously I had to work part-time and then sticking to it when I was tired, knackered, going out in the rain and then finally getting picked up to be a full-time athlete.
“Dreams can come true if you stick to it and stay motivated throughout it all. It’s just as hard to start something to keep doing it.”
Beth Shriever is dreaming of winning back-to-back Olympic golds in Paris this summer.She has since gone on to win two world championship titles and a European crown and heads to Paris as one of the favourites to reach the top step of the podium again.
“This time around going into Paris, I'm more of a favourite,” she added. “Going into Tokyo I was an underdog, there wasn't much pressure. It was about going in to enjoy the experience and what will be will be.
“This time I'm going to defend something, go there and get a medal. The preparation is fierce and intense. I'm up for the challenge. It's a different feel but I'm so, so excited.”
NatWest, Official Banking Partner to Team GB, has launched their Team Talk to inspire to the nation, designed to help get people going, whatever their goal. To find out more visit
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