In an emotional and thrilling return to the Olympic stage Saya Sakakibara wins gold in BMX racing Olympics 2024, overcoming past adversity and recent setbacks. The 24-year-old Australian rider dominated the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines track on Saturday morning, leaving a powerful mark with her victory.
This triumph comes three years after Sakakibara’s harrowing crash at the Tokyo Games, where she was stretchered off following a severe accident. On her journey back to peak form, she had to overcome significant physical and emotional challenges, including recovering from COVID-19 just days before her gold medal race.
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Sakakibara’s performance was a masterclass in determination and skill. Speaking with Channel Nine after her victory, she expressed her disbelief and joy: “I honestly can’t believe it right now. It all feels like a blur. This whole day was a blur.” Reflecting on her mindset leading up to the race, she recounted, “As I rocked up today, it was six o’clock. I knew that it was going to end at 10 pm, and I was like, ‘I’m going to make these four hours the most proud I’ve ever been of myself.'”
Focused and confident, Sakakibara felt at ease as she approached the start. “I just knew I had it when the gate called. I smiled. I was like, ‘All I have to do is go,'” she said, highlighting her calm and readiness despite the high stakes.
The race was a momentous occasion for her family, including her brother Kai, who suffered a severe brain injury in a World Cup race in 2020. Their presence added emotional weight to the victory, as Sakakibara shared, “My family is here. Everything that I’ve been through in the last two to three years… this was what got me going. I can’t talk, I’m sorry.”
With her exceptional display of speed and technique, Sakakibara became the first Australian BMX rider to win an Olympic gold medal. Her success marks a significant achievement for Australian cycling, following Grace Brown’s gold in the road time trial on day one of the Games and Natalya Diehm’s bronze in women’s BMX freestyle.
Sakakibara’s journey to the top included winning all her quarter-final heats and semi-final races, consistently delivering the fastest times. Despite previous disappointments in high-pressure finals, such as the world championships in May, she rose to the occasion, leading from the start and finishing with an impressive time of 34.231 seconds.
The women’s final contrasted with the men’s event, where fellow Australian Izaac Kennedy faced a challenging race. Kennedy, 23, fell at the first corner of the final, clipping the track’s edge and crashing. Though visibly shaken, he managed to remount and complete the race, with France sweeping the men’s podium, led by Joris Daudet.
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Adding a personal note to the day’s events, Sakakibara shared a touching moment with her partner, French bronze medallist Romain Mahieu, as they celebrated her remarkable victory.
Saya Sakakibara’s gold medal is not just a testament to her athletic prowess but also a story of resilience and the enduring spirit of an athlete who has overcome the odds to achieve her dreams on the world stage.
