As a female athlete, Silvi is passionate about giving back and inspiring female riders from both BMX and other sports. She is part of the BMXercise movement which provide the only female BMX fitness sessions in the UK and is a lead coach at the 'Women & Girls' sessions at Brixton BMX club. The sessions provide an open environment for females in a male dominated sport. 

Silvi Vargas said…

"Sometimes your biggest achievements come when you don't even realise it simply because you're having so much fun, that is what cycling is to me!

"I started BMX at the late age of 15 after watching Mariana Pajon, a female Colombian rider, win the 2012 Olympics and simply haven't looked back since! 

"As a female BMX athlete, I am very passionate about giving back to the community and empowering more female presence not only in BMX but in other sports and coaching!

"I am currently BMX national number seven, British number six, south number one.

"Cycling has always been a way to express myself, to live in the moment and to become the best that I can in all aspects of my life. 

I think that we need more female role models for our new generation of riders to relate to!

Silvi Vargas

"BMX in particular has helped me find my passion for coaching and inspiring others through the power of sport. My goal is to be able to create a space where people are given the chance and support that I wished I had when I started cycling. I think that we need more female role models for our new generation of riders to relate to!

"I am part of the BMXercise movement, which are female-only BMX fitness sessions around the UK & I am the lead coach of the 'Women & Girls' sessions at Brixton BMX Club which I helped create to give women and girls an open environment to feel understood and empowered in this male-dominated sport!"

Nominated by…

Silvi was nominated for the 100 Women in Cycling by Aisha Lawal, who said: 

"Silvi is an inspiration to many. As an avid BMX rider herself, Silvi dedicates much of her time to coaching other women and being a positive and supporting role model for females in BMX. Many of the women within our network look up to Silvi because of her achievements and because of what she gives back to the community.

Silvi dedicates much of her time to coaching other women and being a positive and supporting role model for females in BMX

Aisha Lawal

"Before lockdown, Silvi was coaching BMX and teaching women how to cycle and this has continued well into lockdown. During this difficult time, Silvi has helped us deliver some lockdown BMXercise sessions via Zoom.

"Silvi recognises the important role cycling and BMX plays in many women’s lives, so centres sessions and activities around them to ensure they are getting what they need. Silvi has also done a lot of work to get girls to attend club sessions. Again being that positive role model and showcasing how cycling and BMX has made a difference to her life, Silvi works diligently across London to ensure women get the same opportunities to enjoy cycling in the same way men do."