While most toddlers were still wobbling on training wheels, Cullen Sumner was already hitting a dirt track on a BMX bike at 2.5 years old. Now 15 and a sophomore at Daviess County High School, Sumner is traveling the country, competing in national events, and chasing a dream of one day representing the United States in BMX freestyle at the Olympics.
Sumner’s first ride on a dirt track was at Burdette Park in Evansville, then he spent time training at Derby City BMX and the Louisville Skatepark. By age 8, he’d transitioned from BMX racing to freestyle, which focuses on tricks and style rather than speed.
As a teen, he won back-to-back Kentucky State Championships in the digital state freestyle series and claimed the overall title last year. Cullen has competed at freestyle events in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Florida, and more.
“I just like hanging out with everyone,” Cullen said. “I meet people from all over the world — Japan, Australia. That’s super fun.”
He’s currently working toward qualifying for the Junior Olympics, which will be held in Paraguay this August.
“My ultimate goal is to go to the Olympics,” he said. “But I also want to be national champion in the freestyle series and place top five at the Junior Olympics.”
His father, Eric Sumner, said it’s about more than just rankings.
“They’re looking for the best amateur riders to represent the U.S., but they also want someone who’s dedicated and a good person,” he said. “If Cullen makes it, he’ll represent the United States in freestyle BMX.”
Cullen trains five days a week, rides whenever the weather allows, and has added running and gym sessions to his routine. He said being prepared for conditions like wind is just as important as having the right tricks.
“You’ve got to find your flow,” he said. “If it’s windy during a competition, you have to do the tricks you know you can land every time and be smart about maneuvering through it.”
His bike is dialed in like a race car, with custom parts adjusted to match his growth and needs.
“As he’s grown, we’ve had to constantly upgrade his setup — stronger parts, wider bars, changes to weight,” Eric said. “His front end is titanium — top of the line.”
Cullen said BMX freestyle offers multiple avenues for a career, including doing show tours, X Games appearances, or international competitions like the “FISE” series.
“Triple Challenge is another one I just did where you can get paid,” he said. “But the Olympics — that’s probably the biggest thing right now.”
Cullen credits a strong support system, including his parents and sponsors such as J-Walker’s Apparel Co., Coleman HVAC, Wild Child BMX, and DansComp, a bike parts distributor.
With his eyes set on international competition and Olympic gold, Cullen said he’s ready to give it everything he’s got.
“I just have to dedicate myself 100 percent,” he said.
