Kathy Schachel - The First Woman BMX Professional National Champion
In the world of BMX, Kathy Schachel was always ahead of her time. She earned her spot on a professional team when her classification only permitted her to race as an amateur. Numerous National wins all throughout the US total 55. She was the NBL National Champion for 1981, 1982, and 1983. Kathy also held the titles of World Champion (1979, 1981) and European Champion (1982). Kathy pioneered the first ever Women's Pro class in 1985 and won the National Pro Championships for the years 1985 and 1986. Kathy also had the honor of becoming the first woman BMX racer ever to grace the cover of a national magazine (BMX Plus!). Kathy Schachel helped make the BMX Olympic dream a reality. She was the first woman athlete to be inducted into the NBL BMX Hall of Fame in Louisville, KY on August 30, 2008.
Growing up in Teaneck, NJ Kathy started racing in 1978 when she was 12-years-old. Her brother and his friends brought her out to the Craigmere BMX track in Newfoundland, NJ. They thought it would be funny to watch her ride the track until she placed third against the boys in her very first race. Only one year later in 1979, at the age of 13 Kathy won her first World Title, in the process earning the right to be the first woman on the cover of a BMX magazine (BMX Plus! 1979). During her six-year amateur career, Kathy was sponsored by Shimano, had a perfect season where she never lost even a moto, and earned three National titles, a European Championship title and two World Championship titles.
In 1985, the NBL created the first women's pro class and Kathy immediately went on to win it, giving her the crown of the first NBL Women's Pro Championship. The following year, Kathy repeated as the Women's Pro champion. After earning back-to-back Pro titles without the aid of a sponsor for either year, Kathy retired from racing at the age of 20 and attended college to become a physical therapist assistant. Remaining true to east coast roots, Kathy lives near the shore in NJ. Adding another first to her long list, Kathy is the first woman athlete to be inducted into the NBL BMX Hall of Fame.
Growing up in Teaneck, NJ Kathy started racing in 1978 when she was 12-years-old. Her brother and his friends brought her out to the Craigmere BMX track in Newfoundland, NJ. They thought it would be funny to watch her ride the track until she placed third against the boys in her very first race. Only one year later in 1979, at the age of 13 Kathy won her first World Title, in the process earning the right to be the first woman on the cover of a BMX magazine (BMX Plus! 1979). During her six-year amateur career, Kathy was sponsored by Shimano, had a perfect season where she never lost even a moto, and earned three National titles, a European Championship title and two World Championship titles.
In 1985, the NBL created the first women's pro class and Kathy immediately went on to win it, giving her the crown of the first NBL Women's Pro Championship. The following year, Kathy repeated as the Women's Pro champion. After earning back-to-back Pro titles without the aid of a sponsor for either year, Kathy retired from racing at the age of 20 and attended college to become a physical therapist assistant. Remaining true to east coast roots, Kathy lives near the shore in NJ. Adding another first to her long list, Kathy is the first woman athlete to be inducted into the NBL BMX Hall of Fame.