Billie Russell continues extraordinary form in under-15 at the state titles

A Victorian teenager is on track to become Australian cycling’s next big thing after two dominant years, although she was almost lost to another sport.

Brunswick’s Billie Russell has always been a sporting natural.

No matter if she’s been on ice skates, roller blades or the bike — but it’s the latter which is now bringing her success.

The 13-year-old cycling prodigy is not just one of Victoria’s most dominant junior stars, but one of Australia’s.

And it all comes down to the decision to hang up the skates when the Covid pandemic started, forcing Melbourne’s ice rinks to sit and defrost.

Now, she’s one of the most impressive Victorian cycling champions in recent memory.

At the state track titles at the weekend, Russell claimed four titles — winning every event she raced in.

The Brunswick Cycling Club member won the sprint, points race, individual pursuit and time trial.

Billie Russell (middle) on the top step of the podium after one of her races at the state titles. Picture: Luke Russell.

The BCC cyclist won her time trial by more than half a second, won the individual pursuit final by almost seven seconds and did not lose a sprint in the three rounds, including her gold medal match.

“My coaches were really helpful the whole weekend,” she said.

“There was definitely improvement in all my times from last year to this year so I was really happy with it.

“It was really good.”

Russell was not only the champion this year, she was also the winner last year in the same events in the same age group.

At under-15 state level, she’s been unbeaten since starting her first year of competition in the age group.

Her father Luke said her success has come through her determination to succeed.

Billie Russell at the age of nine with her speed skates. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“She’s always been a competitive person, she doesn’t like losing,” he said.

“With her background in ice sports (skating) as well, and in-line speed skating, she’s always been racing and competitive.”

Russell’s success has come quickly after only taking up the sport seriously almost three years ago.

Before cycling, she was focused on becoming a speed skater, in ice and roller blade, and was successful at it.

“There’s a bit of cross over with training (cycling and speed skating), her coaches cycled and stuff like that so we got her a road bike so she started cycling,” Luke said.

“She wasn’t super keen (on cycling early) as she was skating and then ice skating and was really good at that.

“Covid came along and shut all the ice rinks and had an impact on it around Victoria. Billie was able to still ride a bike and train on a bike and it just grew from there during Covid.

“After Covid, she started taking it seriously and it is what it is and it’s her life now.”

Russell said cycling was more fun for her compared to speed skating, as it gives her an opportunity to be with others.

“It was really hard ice skating because there wasn’t any kids in the sport,” she said.

“When I started cycling, because there was so many kids my age riding it was good.”

Russell and her family are now taking her success seriously and have hired Shepparton coaches Rhiannon and Brad Norton to help the talented teenager reach her goals.

Rhiannon is a masters national champion.

“They are fantastic and have played a huge role in making Billie what she is today,” Luke said.

“Pre last year it was all about just racing. Race everything, have fun, go out Tuesday, we’d race, Wednesday, we’d race, once the weekend hit we’d race and have fun.

“This year it’s become more structured with her coach. We go to Shepparton most weekends and train up there with them at the track.

“They are laid back as well, they are not putting pressure on her to be the best.

“They very much focused on the individual stuff.”

Billie Russell won a national title in the Keirin last year. Picture: Brunswick Cycling Club.

The performances have Russell closing in on a national record in the individual pursuit.

She’s around half a second away after doing a time of 2:41.455 during the final, her personal best.

Russell is heading to the national titles in April and is every chance of breaking the record then.

As for the future, the talented rider has lofty goals.

Not only is she a track star but the budding cyclist is a handy road racer.

She won last year’s time trial and road race at the under-15 state titles

“Hopefully in the future we can go overseas and race in big events like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics,” she said.

“I like the road more than the track (but still like doing both).”

Russell’s next major events will be at the nationals from April 11 to 14 in Brisbane.

Joining her at the event will be riders Alanah Lake and Lachlan Stewart who also did well at the state titles.

Stewart, in the under-15 men, won three gold in the points, the sprint and individual pursuit with Lake, in the under-17 women, winning in time trial, sprint and the individual pursuit.

Oscar Gallagher, in the under-19 men, was another dominant rider, claiming two gold medals in the time trial and individual pursuit.

He was joined by Lilyth Jones who won two gold in the under-19 women points and the individual pursuit.

This weekend will see the under-11s and under-13s compete at their state titles at the DISC Velodrome with Para-cycling and Masters joining them.