Canberra's first 'Para-BMX' champion wants new sport to have national recognition

It’s at that point in the interview when I have one more question for 10-year-old Sonny Kneafsey, mainly around his hopes and dreams for the future, but he’s already left the phone to his mum Tahlia Schwalm – he’s out the back on his bike.

It’s been this way since before Sonny could talk.

“Sonny didn’t speak until he was four years old, but he was very, very good on the bike,” Tahlia says.

Last weekend, Sonny became Canberra’s first ‘Para-BMX’ racing champion in what his mum describes as a massive testament to his incredible dedication and hard work.

The pair are now working to promote the sport across Australia.

“I want the message out there that children with disabilities do have opportunities in other sports, but BMX particularly – being such an underrepresented sport for children with special needs – it’d be great to get more (recognition),” Tahlia says.

The Fraser Primary School student has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD and is classed as intellectually disabled.

“He struggles very much to stay on task, and the focus is really hard for him,” his mum says.

“He wants to integrate, he wants to be in the mainstream Year-5 class at school, so that’s one of the things that’s affecting him a lot. This is why having the para division in his favourite sport is great because he can have that inclusion.”

In December 2022, Tasmania hosted the first national championships in the world to include Para-BMX. The field was open to competitors across intellectual impairment, deaf and transplant categories, and split into two age groups – 8-13 and 14-plus.

The Canberra BMX Club hosted its first Para-BMX championship at its track in Melba on 16 March, where Sonny competed against a 17-year-old and a 50-year-old and emerged victorious. Just.

“It was so close between him and the other boy – neck and neck. He cradled his trophy for 24 hours after, and took it to school to show his friends.”

Sonny first expressed an interest in taking up BMX in 2020, having driven past the family’s local track in Melba for years.

“One day he just said, ‘I really want to do BMX’.”

Tahlia looked into it, but – as she’s unable to work due to a chronic health condition – concluded all the equipment – the bike, the helmet, the gloves, the suit – was simply too expensive.

“There was a financial barrier for a long time, and the club was unable to loan anything because of COVID, but two years later, when the restrictions eased, he was finally able to start. And yeah, it has just sort of flowed on from there,” she says.

Sonny was noticed by a race development squad at the end of last year, who were on the look out for “kids that fly under the radar a bit but have great potential and commitment to the sport”.

“They wrote him a letter, offering him a place and saying how they’d love for him to be on the team.”

The offer came at the perfect time. Sonny’s dad died in September 2024, so Tahlia said doubling down on BMX riding has helped him process the grief.

Tahlia has now started a fundraiser to take Sonny to greater heights.

“We’re currently trying to gain some sort of sponsorship or donations to get a bit more traction on it to basically cover the cost of event registrations, travel, accommodation, because there’s pretty much something on every second weekend.”

Sonny plans to attend the NSW Championships in September, but the really big one he’s aiming for is the National Championships in October – a five-day event that promises plenty of exposure.

Along the way, the pair are lobbying for Para-BMX to be included in more events, such as the state series, where kids like Sonny still have to compete alongside everyone else in their age bracket.

Sonny’s younger sister, Albie has now joined him riding BMX, and his two other siblings – Poppy and Oliver – remain supporters from the sidelines.

“I don’t know, I just like riding,” he says, when he’s back on the phone.

“I want to start learning to jump really high.”

Visit Sonny’s Facebook page or Instagram page for more information, or to donate, visit his GoFundMe page.