In a stunning display of resilience and determination, Saya Sakakibara captured gold at the BMX racing event just outside Paris, overcoming a tumultuous journey marked by injuries and personal trials.

A few years ago, Sakakibara was on the brink of giving up BMX racing. After suffering a concussion during the Tokyo Olympics and another within the year, the sport she loved became fraught with fear and uncertainty. The shadow of her brother Kai’s accident loomed large; Kai had been forced to retire from racing in 2020 after sustaining a severe brain injury at a World Cup event.

“I was really not enjoying it,” Sakakibara admitted. “After the second concussion, I thought that was the end for me.”

Despite her struggles, Sakakibara couldn’t ignore the potential she had shown before the Tokyo Olympics. The thought of what might have been propelled her forward, driving her to aim for Paris. She knew that with everything falling into place, she had the potential to claim gold.

On Friday night, that potential was realized. At the BMX course near Paris, Sakakibara surged ahead of American rider Alise Willoughby at the first corner and never looked back. She navigated the course’s jumps and bumps with precision, securing her place at the top of the podium. Manon Veenstra of the Netherlands took silver, and Zoe Claessens of Switzerland claimed bronze.

Adding to the celebrations, Sakakibara’s partner, Romain Mahieu, won bronze earlier in the evening, completing a French sweep of the men’s podium.

Reflecting on her journey, Sakakibara said, “After Tokyo, I think that concussion was the start of an emotional roller coaster. I hadn’t really dealt with the emotions following Kai’s accident. But looking back, I knew I had the desire to see what could have been. If I had given up, I would have been very disappointed.”

For Alise Willoughby, a three-time world champion, the race ended in frustration. Shuffled back after the first corner, she finished sixth, unable to add an Olympic gold to her collection.

“It was a tough one. Tough one to swallow,” said Willoughby, whose only Olympic medal remains the silver from Rio 2016. “Just disappointed, obviously, but chin still up, you know?”

The BMX heats, which concluded just as a thunderstorm drenched the covered track adjacent to the National Velodrome of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines on Thursday night, were dominated by the medal favourites: Sakakibara, Shriever, and Willoughby. Mariana Pajon of Colombia, a two-time Olympic champion and reigning silver medallist, faced a tougher challenge. She failed to finish better than fifth in any of her heats and had to race the last-chance qualifier, which she won, though it seemed to take a toll.

In the semifinals, Shriever and Sakakibara were dominant, each sweeping their runs. Willoughby, however, found herself in trouble, narrowly advancing to the finals with a dramatic photo finish in her second semifinal run, edging out Pajon.

In the final race, Sakakibara showcased her dominance, while Veenstra and Claessens provided surprising podium finishes. Claessens, reflecting on her performance, said, “I didn’t really do great in the semis, and I was just like, ‘OK, go full gas.’ I’ll pick the outside, go full gas and it worked out, and I’m very happy.”

Sakakibara’s victory is not just a testament to her athletic prowess but also to her unwavering spirit and determination to overcome adversity, making her journey to the top all the more inspiring.