Tony “HRV” Harvey

The racer, lifter & black belt behind HRVfit

You want speed that shows up on race day. Tony “HRV” Harvey has spent more than 40 years figuring out how to build it; first as a BMX racer, then as a coach. He’s a former Australian Elite National Champion (2000), seven-time Victorian Pro/Elite Champion, two-time Masters National Champion, a powerlifting competitor, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. 

Stats:

• Australian Elite Champion: 2000 

• 7× Victorian Pro/Elite Champion

• Masters National Champion: 2010 (Shepparton), 2015 (Brisbane / Sleeman)

• Australian titles: 1990 Eastfield (Melbourne), 1992 Cairns, 1993 Mount Gambier

• Rode for: Diamondback, Powerlite, Maxxim, Intense, Avent, S&M,

• Long‑time sponsor: Elite Cycle Imports (ECI), Gary Brookes

• BMX Victoria's High performance State team coach 

• Powerlifting bests: Squat 250 kg · Bench 165 kg · Deadlift 270 kg · Total 685 kg

• Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu: Black belt (August 2023)

• Founder/coach: HRVfitness — coached BMX riders and endurance athletes for 10+ years. Including riders: Brandon Tehiko, Max Cairns, Tom Siinmaa, Nathan Glab, Matt White, Oli Kent Sparks and Jaden Rice, to name a few.

The story

If you’ve been around Aussie BMX, you’ve heard the name. Tony cut his teeth racing through the 80s, 90s and 2000s, then kept competing and coaching right through to Masters. The experience he gathered over those years he has turned into BMX training method that produces real winners. 

That experience has became HRVfit. He built programs that peak riders when it counts, combining overspeed eccentrics to create real power, neural activation for quicker reactions, and BMX‑specific sprints that replicate race‑day conditions. It’s not theory; it’s what worked for Tony and the riders he coaches. The approach is shaped by Louie Simmons’ conjugate principles and Marv Marinovich’s movement‑first athletic development.

HRVfitness — the gym years

After the elite years Tony opened HRVfitness, a 24/7 strength & conditioning gym in Geelong. At the same time he was coaching the BMX Victoria’s High Performance State Team, with riders using the HRVfitness facility and utilising Tony's experience. It was a simple setup that worked: train hard, measure progress, and carry that work onto the track.

Teams & sponsors 

Tony rode for a stack of iconic brands: Maxxim, Diamondback, Powerlite, Intense, Avent and S&M. His main supporter for many years was Elite Cycle Imports (ECI) under Gary Brookes. 

Coaching philosophy (how we train at HRVfit)

• Strength that transfers: Lifts and jumps that carry to the bike—no fluff.

• Overspeed eccentrics: Quick lowers and fast reversals to build power.

• Neural activation: Prime the system so you react instantaneously.

• BMX‑specific sprints: Track and road sessions that mirror racing.

• Simple metrics: Track hill times, Sprint speeds and weight progression.

• Repeatable structure: Warm‑ups, cues and progressions you can stick to.

• Influences: Louie Simmons (conjugate/Westside principles adapted for BMX) and Marv Marinovich (movement quality, elastic strength and transfer).

Powerlifting & BJJ

Powerlifting: Tony competed on the platform between race seasons and after retiring from elite BMX. Best lifts 250/165/270, total 685kg 

Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu: Tony received his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt (August 2023) after 17 years of training under John Will (Australia's first Coral Belt)

Timeline

• 1990 — Australian title, Eastfield (Vic)

• 1992 — Australian title, Cairns (QLD)

• 1993 — Australian title, Mount Gambier (SA)

• 2000 — Elite Men’s Champion, Darwin (NT)

• 2010 — Masters National Champion (Shepparton)

• 2010 — HRVfitness — Operated 10+ years, coached BMX & endurance athletes

• 2015 — Masters National Champion (Brisbane / Sleeman)

• 2023 — Awarded Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu black belt by coach John Will

• Today — HRVfit coaching, programs and content for riders at every level

What you can expect working with Tony

• BMX-specific programs tailored to your level and capabilities

• Clear, easy-to-follow programming so you know exactly what to do

• 40 years of racing and competition experience distilled into practical sessions

• A coach who understands the pressure of a BMX athlete — on the gate and between motos.

Contact Tony today and talk about taking your racing to the next level!!