Over the last 26 years, many riders from around the world have won the right to don the rainbow jersey of UCI World Champion in the gravity disciplines of downhill, four-cross and dual (the precursor to four-cross). Here are some of the most celebrated:
Anne-Caroline Chausson - 'Anne-Caro' - is one of the greatest riders in the history of gravity racing. She won nine Elite world titles in women's downhill, including eight in a row. Chausson was versatile enough to also win four world titles in Dual (2) and 4-Cross (2), giving her a remarkable 13 Elite world titles. In addition, Chausson won three world titles as a Junior, with a time in 1995 that was faster than the Elite winner. In 2008, after retiring from downhill, she returned to BMX competition, and won gold at the Beijing Olympic Games.
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Nicolas 'Nico' Vouilloz won a remarkable ten world titles in downhill - three as a Junior (1992-94) and seven as an Elite rider (1995-99, 2001-02), including five in a row from 1995 to 1999. He also won the overall UCI World Cup title for downhill four times and 16 UCI World Cup races during his career. Following his downhill career, Vouilloz started racing rally cars, with wins in the intercontinental series.
Still a podium contender in every race he enters, Greg Minnaar has three world titles, the first in 2003 and then back-to-back wins in 2012 and 2013. The latter was in his hometown of Pietermaritzburg. Minnaar holds the men's record for appearances on the Elite podium of the UCI World Championships with 10 medals (3 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze); enough to put him fifth in nation rankings for men. He also holds the record for UCI World Cup victories among men, with 19.
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Rachel Atherton is the most dominant woman in Downhill since the legendary Anne-Caroline Chausson. The British rider has won three Elite world titles so far (and is the defending champion), and a total of seven UCI World Championship medals (3 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze). She also won a world title and a silver medal as a Junior. This season, Atherton won her tenth consecutive UCI World Cup race, surpassing Chausson's record, and now has a total of 31 World Cup victories.
Jill Kintner is a three-time UCI World Champion in four-cross, with a total of six UCI World Championship medals in the discipline (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze). In 2008, Kintner returned to her first sport of BMX for the Beijing Olympic Games, winning the bronze medal.
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Sam Hill is Australia's most decorated downhill racer, with three Elite world titles, two Junior titles, and a total of six Elite UCI World Championship medals (3 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze). His race time in 2003 at the UCI World Championships when he won his second Junior title would have been third among Elite men. He has won the UCI overall World Cup twice.