December ROTM: Amelia Zientara

Our next ROTM is a special one. This little girl has a story that is unlike any other so please take the time to read as it’s longer than our average ROTM post.

Introducing Amelia Zientara but most know her as Millie. Chances are you’ve seen her adorable face and bright smile around Oak Creek and Elk Horn over the last couple years. She is 11 years old and started racing in September of 2023. She recently joined Robby’s 21 Productions and can be found racing a RIFT in the 11 expert girl class and the 11-12 girl cruiser class. Millie’s three goals are become pro, help others on and off the track and be someone who somebody else can look up to. When asked who she looks up to and wants to thank, this is what she had to say..

“I look up to so many people but someone who stood out is Annalyse Salano. Not just for racing but being someone I get to call family. I want to thank my whole family for supporting me no matter what. I want to personally thank Kalani Hunter for pushing me and never letting me give up. Ben Wadsworth for being there at the end of every lap to congratulate me no matter the outcome and being someone that has become a safe person! Daniel Zuniga, thank you for helping me become not only a better rider but a better person. And lastly Uncle Greg for always and I mean always supporting me. Any time I watch my videos after a race I can literally only hear you!”

Millie was diagnosed with PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) at the end of 2024 and has been battling the unknowns of the disease ever since. PANS is a brain condition in children marked by a sudden, dramatic onset of OCD accompanied by severe neuropsychiatric symptoms like intense anxiety, mood changes, irritability, motor tics, sleep problems, or developmental regression, often triggered by various infections or environmental factors, causing an autoimmune response that affects the brain. Basically this little girl is battling a brain disease that is still very new and unknown to the medical field. Her safe space and happy place is at the BMX track on her bike surrounded by her team, friends and family but sometimes her condition doesn’t allow her to partake in the things she loves the most. Millie has a personality like none other, is loved by so many and is capturing the hearts of new people every single day. Keep fighting girly pop, YOU ARE STRONG!