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Flying down rugged mountain trails at speeds of up to 70km/h, navigating rocks, jumps and tight corners with split-second precision, Calrossy Year 12 student Rebecca “Beccy” Sams has found her place in one of the most demanding and adrenaline-fuelled sports in the world — downhill mountain biking.
Now, after an incredible season of racing across Australia, Beccy has been crowned the 2026 AusCycling National Downhill Series Junior Women’s Champion, finishing on top of the national standings after a five-round series contested across Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales.
For Beccy, the achievement represents far more than a title.
“The achievement means a lot to me,” she said. “Not only am I stoked to be number one, but to see what I’m capable of and to give me recognition to future sponsors and open more windows for new experiences
The National Series sees riders accumulate points across rounds held around the country, with placings at each event contributing to an overall leaderboard. Consistent performances at Toowoomba, Willunga and Awaba secured Beccy enough points to finish at the top of the junior women’s standings with 820 points.
Her success has come in a sport where precision, courage and mental focus are essential.
“I would describe it as an adrenaline-seeking sport,” Beccy explained. “Every run you do, you can’t get distracted, you can’t be tired and you can’t have slow reflexes. You make one mistake and you could possibly make a lifelong injury.
“But that’s pretty much why I love it so much. Even though it’s so scary, it’s fun at the same time. Hitting up to 70km/h, flying through the air and smashing off rocks — it’s just a thrill and doesn’t get boring.”
Getting told I wouldn’t be back on the bike for 12 months at the least was a pretty big toll on me, especially when you are at such a high level in your sport.”
Beccy spent days in hospital undergoing scans and testing before returning home to Tamworth, where she faced weeks relearning basic movements.
“It was like learning to walk again,” she recalled. “Being able to sit, walk and stand was a world full of pain.”
The physical recovery was immense, but the mental challenge proved equally difficult.
“As I am a person who can’t just sit still and not do anything, it put me in a dark place, losing a sport that made my whole life,” she said.
Throughout her recovery, Beccy credits her support network — especially her mum and friends — for helping her push forward.
“My mum was by my side the whole time,” she said. “The social part of my life is such an important thing for my happiness, so my friends were also massive parts of my improvement.”
Rather than stepping away from the sport, the experience strengthened her determination.
“I had to decide if I wanted to hang it up or keep pushing, but I knew I wasn’t done,” she said. “I knew I could have the biggest comeback.”
That comeback has already become reality.
Alongside her National Series victory, Beccy also placed fifth at the Australian National Championships at Mount Buller, competing against some of the country’s best Under 19 riders.
Her ambitions are now firmly set on the international stage, with plans to compete at the 2026 UCI Downhill World Championships in Italy later this year.
“I race now and look around and think just over a year ago I was in emergency with a broken back,” she said. “To look at what I have achieved now, I have not only grown as a rider, but I have grown as a person.”
Balancing elite sport alongside Year 12 studies is no easy feat, with training, travel and racing filling much of her week.
“Training every day is the goal,” she said. “If I finish work early enough, I go straight to the gym. If I have time between school and work, I’ll go riding for an hour or two.”
Weekends are often spent travelling to new locations across Australia to train and race.
“Every free weekend, I go to a new place to ride, leaving after school on Friday and coming home Sunday nights.”
Looking beyond school, Beccy dreams of continuing to race and explore the world through mountain biking, with plans to eventually move overseas.
“I would rather travel, work a fun small job and see the places you dream to travel to,” she said.
For now, however, the Year 12 student is focused on continuing to push her limits — something the sport has taught her she is capable of doing.
“I’ve learnt that I’m not one to give up and I can push myself further than I think I can.”
