Shanaze Reade wins third BMX world title

Shanaze Reade has won the world BMX title for the third time in her career.

The 21-year-old from Crewe dominated the final at the World Championships in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.

It was Reade's third world title in four years - she missed last year's Worlds because of injury.

Sarah Walker from New Zealand, who won the title in Reade's absence last year, was second, with Alise Post third.

The big goal on the horizon for Reade is the Olympic Games in London in two years' time. She went into the Beijing Olympics in 2008 as the hot favourite but crashed in the final and failed to win a medal.

She was back to her best in South Africa, getting her trademark fast start off the ramp and holding the lead to the finish.

She said: "It's absolutely amazing. I'm emotional at the moment but the feeling is so good. Missing last year was one of the hardest things but every day that went past I was digging more and more and it's paid off."

Reade is hoping to win gold at London in two disciplines. "My long term future is focused on going for two gold medals in London 2012 - one in BMX, one in the velodrome. I want to be the first British athlete to win two golds in two different disciplines."