Paris Olympics: Sakakibara wins BMX gold, Kennedy crashes out
In a turn of events, at the Saint Quentin en Yvelines BMX Stadium in Australia, Saya Sakakibara clinched the gold medal in Paris Olympics women’s BMX racing.
The 24-year-old secured the top spot in the finals after having a clean sweep in the semifinals.
The leading bookmaker favourite Sakakibara maintained her lead throughout the final race, crossing the finish line 0.7 seconds ahead of Manon Veenstra from the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Zoé Claessens secured the bronze.
Sakakibara’s triumph marks a comeback following a crash during the Tokyo Games semifinals, where she endured her second severe concussion.
On the men’s side of the competition, Australia’s Izaac Kennedy found his way into the finals, however unfortunately crashed at the first corner and ended up finishing in eighth place as a DNF.
France dominated, with Joris Daudet seizing the gold medal while also sweeping the podium with second and third.