10-year-old Ana Kolnookov is the Serbian motocross champion. Since the sport doesn’t attract many girls, she competes against boys her age, and regularly returns from competitions with gold medals and trophies. Her younger brother Viktor, 6, competes in motocross as well.

I joined Ana and Viktor for practice on a sunny, late November day. The motocross track they use for practice is on the outskirts of Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, and both mine and their hometown. As I watched them ride, I marveled at their jumping skills, admired their parents who were cheering them on to go bigger, and hoped that more parents in Serbia let their kids grow up this way.

When I was growing up in Serbia, girls were never encouraged to do anything different than the norm. I hope this story of a fearless young girl encourages more girls to try “boys” sports.

Ana’s parents put her on a motorcycle as they searched for an after-school activity that requires focus, discipline, and dedication to hard work. As she starts competing internationally, she is encouraged to learn English to be able to communicate with people outside of Serbia. This sport doesn’t receive much support or funding from the government, and in a small country like Serbia, motorcycle maintenance can be very expensive for an average salary of a parent. But for Ana’s parents, it is well worth it as they raise their children, because the sport is proving to be just what this fearless young girl needs to stay away from the distractions of today’s world.