I’ll get smiles better
I won’t allow a negative outlook. Also, I’m still coming to terms with it myself
speak about negative stuff with Mum. I won’t allow a negative outlook. “Also, I’m still coming to terms with it myself.”
Kye’s mum split with his dad Nigel Whyte when he was young and he divided his time equally between them. She and Nigel, who co-founded Peckham BMX Club, between them did a sterling job keeping him out of inner-city gang trouble.
Kye took to his BMX from the age of three so he always had that to focus on but he knows how difficult it can be for young people bombarded by social media pictures of gang members flashing the spoils of crime. He said: “It’s harder and harder to get through to the younger generation.
“They see a bad side and see how easy it is to get things like nice cars and good watches.
“But, for me, I’m making a decent living riding a bike – what many people think is a kid’s bike.
“There’s more than one way to make a living. And it might not be sport.
“One of my friends was going down the wrong path but now he’s a teacher – find what you’re good at and follow it. I don’t associate with the people whowentdown the wrong path and all that silly stuff. My friends are all really hard-working.”
Sport always seemed to be Kye’s destiny though, as many members of his family are athletically gifted.
Mum Tracey was a diver, dad Nigel excelled in football and golf before concentrating on coaching BMX.
His brothers Daniel, 33, and Tre, 28, are both BMX champions, as is sister Lasharn, 20. Sister Billie, 27, was a gymnast and now coaches his youngest sister Nia, who’s nine. As a 13-year-old, Kye had a cycle crash that left him in a coma for five days.
He showed his mettle by getting back on his bike as soon as he could.
But as well as his innate mental toughness, he has had some good outside influences too.
One was Kye’s English teacher Miss Afriya. Kye explained: “I wasn’t the best kid at school, and I wasn’t the worst.
“I just wasn’t focused. I never did any homework at school until I met Miss Afriya. She encouraged us to work so every day, even though school finished at 2.50pm, me and my friends would be there until 5pm in her class – we would have a bit of fun, a bit of banter, and do some work too.”
Miss Afriya is still in touch with Kye and his close-knit group of school friends. She joins them when they meet for a meal at Nando’s and attended Kye’s jubilant homecoming party after the Olympics.
“Sometime that’s all you need,” said Kye. “Good people around you who believe in you and keep reminding you to focus and follow your dreams.”
Dancing On Ice is next on ITV on Sunday, starting at 6pm.