A daring BMX professional from Gateshead has made a lasting imprint on the sport as he became the first person ever to land a groundbreaking trick.
A video shows Kieran Reilly, 20, soaring into the air and completing three backflips and a half twist before landing on wheels.
The move, known as a 'Triple Flair', pushes the boundaries of what was thought possible in the sport and shows the incredible trajectory that the British BMX rider is on.
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The fearless Red Bull athlete grew up in Gateshead, but has since moved to Corby, Northampton to train with fellow pro-riders.
He described to the Chronicle how he felt landing the mind-boggling move at Asylum Park: "It was the first time in my life I've cried happy tears- there was such a flood of relief.
"Not many people thought it was even possible to land this trick on a BMX, so it was an incredible moment.
"I had to push through a massive mental block to achieve this. Beforehand I was so stressed that people were saying I looked quite unwell."
The triple flair was landed after 13 days of riding and around 20 previous attempts.
Kieran spent hours practicing the move into a foam pit, and then moved straight onto a wooden ramp.
His body took a beating at every failed attempt, but they motivated him to defy the limits of the sport and re-write what is possible.
"It’s one of those tricks you can only attempt a couple of times because when you crash, you crash hard," said the young Red Bull athlete.
It's a major achievement, and an important milestone in his development as he set his sights on the Paris Olympics in 2024.
He explained: "I've been riding since I was around eight years old, and I did my first single flair when I was eleven.
"The double flair came around two years ago, and even that was a major achievement, it's quite a niche trick.
"But one day I decided I wanted to try the triple, because I knew I had the capability."
His journey to becoming a professional rider hasn't been a clear and straight track.
After leaving school, Kieran completed a joinery apprenticeship for several years and spent his spare time practicing his craft and trying to attract sponsors.
He said: "My parents were very supportive, but they didn't always have a lot of money.
"I picked up sponsors gradually and eventually calculated I had just enough money to live, so I could quit my job.
"I knew it was going to be tight, but it gave me the opportunity to focus all my energy and time into riding, and that's what led to the Red Ball sponsorship."
You can watch a full behind the scenes edit of the tripe flair at redbull.co.uk/tripleflair, or the trick can be viewed on Red Bull UK’s Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channel.
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