Anneke Beerten on BMX, Brain Injury, and Starting Over
How does a kid from the Netherlands end up a world champion?
By riding a janky little BMX in a country where cycling is just what people do. Anneke Beerten started young, and because there were hardly any girls on the track, she raced against boys from the start. That shaped her approach to youth sports: keep it fun, build skills before worrying about results, and let confidence come from repetition instead of pressure. Supportive parents, playful training, and plenty of time outside did the rest.
How do you get “fearless” without getting hurt?
You don’t ignore the danger. Anneke learned jumps one small step at a time and paid attention to the inner voice that says “not yet.” That’s still how she coaches mountain biking today. Ride within your ability, treat trails like ski runs from green to black, and don’t let anyone else’s highlight reel push you into risks you haven’t earned.
She also says mountain biking is good for your head. Technical riding means looking two seconds ahead, which leaves no room for your to-do list. It’s mindfulness at speed.
What does a long career actually look like?
Messier than the trophy case suggests. Anneke won BMX world championships as a teenager, then moved to mountain biking and found out how much structured training, strength work, and conditioning matter. She breaks down fourcross, or 4X, as BMX intensity meets downhill speed: four riders on a short, jump-filled course, with the top two advancing.
Her fourcross world title didn’t come until her early 30s, after years of near misses, crashes, and growing expectations from sponsors and fans. Success, in her telling, mostly means staying in the game until the right day shows up.
What happened in 2020?
A driver ran a red light in California and t-boned her truck. The result was a traumatic brain injury and whiplash, followed by dizziness, headaches, sensitivity to noise and light, motion sickness, and a slow, month-by-month recovery. When doctors recommended medical retirement to avoid more concussions, she felt grief and relief at the same time, because the pressure to perform finally lifted.
Her approach to recovery was practical. She filmed small wins so she could see progress, gave herself room to grieve, and then refused to stay in a victim mindset. What she was building was a “2.0 version” of herself, one that contributes in new ways.
Why Bentonville, Arkansas?
She wanted a slower, more affordable life with a real purpose, and Bentonville had year-round trails and a community that invests in riding. She moved without a perfect plan and built a full-time coaching business for riders from beginners to pros.
She also started Bear Ten, a mountain bike apparel line with lighter, breathable, more tailored jerseys and stretchy women’s pants that have room for knee pads and actual pockets.
What’s her advice for anyone chasing a comeback?
Never lose the fun. Parents shouldn’t pressure their kids. And use social media for inspiration rather than letting it trap you in comparison. For anyone coming back from an injury or starting a new chapter, her story makes the case that confidence and forward motion come from small, steady steps.
