Walker Looks to London

Kawerau BMX rider Sarah Walker, 21, took first place at the World BMX championships in the cruiser class (large wheel diameter) and the elite women’s title indoors at the Adelaide Showgrounds. Walker, a bronze medallist at last year’s world championship at Taiyuan in China, claimed gold in 31.879sec to beat French rider Eva Ailloud (32.991) in the final. It was Walker’s second world title in the cruiser class (larger wheel diameter) after her victory in Canada two years ago, which was secured 24 hours after she won the world elite final with similar ease. Walker was on top of the world and already eyeing the 2012 podium in London after last year’s disappointment of a fourth placing in Beijing. “This hasn’t sunk in yet. This morning I really didn’t have the time to think that I had become a world champion because I had to prepare for today,” Walker said. “This is a huge confidence boost for me.”