The Canberra BMX queen has revealed she will make her freestyle debut in China this week, trading track racing for backflips and tricks in the newly-added Olympic Games sport.

Her desire to try something new was sparked by her time off the bike this year after a horrific off-road accident on New Year's Eve, which broke her nose and sternum, collapsed her lungs and caused dangerous bleeding around her heart.

Freestyle BMX has been added to the Olympic program for the Tokyo Games in 2020. But for now, Buchanan is just embracing the opportunity to take on a new challenge.

The eight-time world champion will compete in China after teaching herself tricks in her California backyard and attending a BMX Australia camp last week.

Buchanan still has 12 screws and a metal plate holding her sternum together, but says the injuries and the recovery experience has made her more resilient.

"I was obviously nervous about coming back to the sport and coming back from injury, and now to add this to my plate as well. This is like going from swimming to diving," Buchanan said.

"Am I going to be able to handle the injuries? The pain and the crashes? The injury I had at the start of this year was bigger than anything I've ever had, and hopefully it never happens again.

"I knew that once I recovered from that ... I just knew I could handle freestyle and the injuries that come with it. I made that decision to go in freestyle when I was at my lowest and decided to go completely out of my comfort zone.

"I don't really have any expectations and that's a weird feeling. I don't know where I stand in freestyle, this is about taking on a new challenge and that's what I love.

"It's refreshing and gives me so much energy. I've pedalled in a straight line for 22 years, but I feel like I'm learning all over again. It's an emotional ride as well."

Buchanan, 27, has her eyes locked on a third Olympic appearance in her pet event, the BMX race, in Tokyo in two years.

But the freestyle events will give her an outlet as she makes her way back to international competition after spending more than six months off her bike.

The extended break from racing gave her a chance to plot her comeback path and she will compete at the freestyle World Cup events in China on November 3 and November 12.

The freestyle seed was planted at the Rio Games when Buchanan heard rumours it was being considered as one of the new sports for Tokyo.

She started experimenting with tricks last year and husband Barry Nobles has built a ramp and foam pit in their California backyard to give Buchanan a chance to practice.

"When I signed up, it was completely out of my comfort zone. It's like retraining a race-horse mentality and that's been such a challenge," Buchanan said.

"But it's really lighting the fire for me at the moment. BMX racing is fast and action-packed. But with freestyle you bring in the fun and experimental side ... you write your own course.

"I've always been a better time-trialist than a racer, and that was when I was on the course by myself which gave me a chance to breakdown the track.

"Freestyle is one minute by yourself and a chance to express yourself. The best years I've had have been after Olympic Games, where I've had a bit more freedom and been able to set bigger challenges, or do things differently."

Buchanan five-time mountain bike and three-time BMX world champion, and was one of the gold-medal favourites at the London and Rio Olympics.

She was left heartbroken in London and then crashed out of the final in Rio after being the fastest qualifier for the final.

"But I've got a clear picture of what my main drivers are and I guess this year was a bit of a blessing in a way. I've never had that long off the bike, it gave me time to reassess," Buchanan said.

"It's a huge expectation to try to get two medals, so if I only go for one it would still be amazing. I've started to land some tricks - the backflip, a 360 and a flair - the next thing is to do it under pressure."