Gabriella Arnold has received a scholarship from Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana, which boasts one of the most prestigious collegiate cycling programmes in the United States.

It is understood that Arnold is the first Bermudian cyclist to be awarded a scholarship, believed to be in the region of $20,000, and will begin her academic studies next month at Marian, who are the defending national champions in road, track, mountain bike and BMX.

The 17-year-old, who has claimed one gold medal and three bronzes in three appearances at the Junior Caribbean Championships, will compete in road and mountain biking for Marian.

“To be able to compete with the best in the US at the collegiate level will be awesome,” Arnold, who has graduated from Warwick Academy, said. “I’m sure training with some of the top athletes in their programme will benefit me a lot.

“I knew I wanted to continue cycling at university, so I reached out to them. I visited the school recently to check out their cycling facility and I’m super excited.”

Arnold has won every Bermuda national championship for junior female riders for the past 3½ years, amassing a staggering 15 straight titles.

She will be unable to extend her winning streak, however, because she will be in the US when the Criterium Championship is held in October.

Arnold, who hopes to compete in her final Junior Caribbean Championships in Suriname in October, has set her sights on representing the Island at the highest level of competition.

“After I have finished being a junior, which is in December, I hope to grow as a cyclist and go on to compete at the Commonwealth Games and at the elite Caribbean level,” she said.

The teenager leaves with the full support and blessing of the Bermuda Bicycle Association. “Gabriella she has done great things as an athlete and we are hoping that she is able to continue with her cycling at a high level in college,” Peter Dunne, the BBA president, said.