Thieves hit BMX champion Dominic's Olympic hopes

MEAN thieves could have stolen a teenage cyclist's Olympic dream after snatching his bike just days before a make-or-break trial.

BMX ace Dominic Skidmore (15), has spent the last 12 months training in the wind and rain to prepare for an all-important trial in front of the Great British Cycling Team tomorrow.

But the Wingfield Comprehensive School student was devastated when he woke up on Wednesday to find that heartless thieves had broken into a shed in the back garden of his family home, taking three bikes and fishing tackle.

Heart-broken Dominic, said: "I'm absolutely gutted, just devastated, this trial is my life.

"I've been working hard for this for months and can't believe my bike has gone.

"I've got to borrow a friend's bike so I'm going to go out and try and do some training before the trial.

"Hopefully I've still got a chance and I will be able to show them what I can do. I just have to hope that someone will read this and bring it back."

His mum, Vicky Skidmore, said that it was around 7.15am when they noticed the break-in at their Kimberworth Park home.

She said: "The thieves got in through our fence. They had slid a panel up and crawled underneath.

"There were three locks on the door of the shed so they just ripped it off its hinges.

"This is an expensive bike worth more than £1,500. I'm convinced that these people knew what they were after."

The trial, at the GB headquarters in Manchester, is for one of eight places on the Great Britain talent team, a scheme open to under 19s, who go on to tour Europe, receiving professional coaching and taking part in races. The aim is to train them up to Olympic standard.

Vicky added: "This is Dominic's big weekend and the people who have stolen his bike have literally jeopardised his Olympic dream.

"It makes me so mad. What is wrong with these people who just go out and take whatever they want. They should get a job."

Dominic is currently part of the Free Agents Route 55 BMX team and a member of Rotherham BMX club. He finished fourth in a national series in his age group this year.

His interest in the sport began in 2008 when he started riding as a hobby, but it soon turned into a passion and Dominic has been training hard in a bid to make it in the sport.

But facing the possibility of borrowing someone else's bike ahead of the trial his coach, Kelvin Batey, said that Dominic was facing a real disadvantage as he goes under the spotlight.

He said: "The bike is so specific to each rider, from the angles of the bars to the grips. It's his right leg, but the organisers have said they can't give him any concessions.

"This is a make-or-break weekend for Dominic and he's put in so much hard work for it.

"He is a credit to himself and the community and it makes me angry that someone could have spoiled his chances."

The BMX bike is black, with silver wheels and a white sticker on the bar which reads Free Agent.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the South Yorkshire Police witness line on 0114 220 2020.

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