Paris 2024 Olympics: Australia name team for BMX and mountain bike cycling events
Six Australian cyclists were named across BMX racing, BMX freestyle and mountain bike cycling events for the Paris 2024 Olympics by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) on Friday.
Reigning Olympic champion Logan Martin, 30, and the 25-year-old Natalya Diehm, who finished fifth at Tokyo three years ago, will compete in the men’s and women’s BMX freestyle events, respectively.
Logan, a silver medallist at the 2023 World Championship, was second at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai before missing out on the final in Budapest. Natalya finished the Olympic Qualifier Series sixth overall to secure her place in the Australian team.
Izaac Kennedy, the 23-year-old Olympic debutant, will feature in the men’s BMX racing while Lauren Reynolds, 33, and Saya Sakakibara, 24, will pedal in the women’s BMX racing.
The 32-year-old Rebecca Henderson will be the sole Australian mountain bike rider at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Lauren Reynolds and Rebecca Henderson will join Anna Meares as the only female Australian cyclist to compete at four Olympics.
“Izaac and Saya enter as World Cup champions and will be out to show their impressive form in Paris,” Deputy Chef de Mission Ken Wallace said while announcing the team at the AusCycling Indoor BMX Training Facility at the Gold Coast.
“Logan made his own history as the first BMX Freestyle Olympic champion in Tokyo and Natalya has fought her way back through injury to qualify as one of the top 6 riders in the Olympic Qualifying Series,” Wallace added.
The six athletes named on Friday join the 19 track and road cyclists announced last week to complete the 25-member Australian cycling team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The mountain bike events will be held on July 28 and 29 at the Elancourt Hill. The BMX freestyle competitions will be at the La Concorde from July 30 and 31 while the BMX racing will be on August 1 and 2 at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium.
Australian cyclists have a rich Olympic legacy, having won 52 medals - 13 gold, 19 silver and 20 bronze - at the Summer Games Games to date.
Australia’s BMX cycling team for Paris 2024 Olympics
- BMX freestyle: Natalya Diehm - women’s event
- BMX freestyle: Logan Martin - men’s event\
- BMX racing: Lauren Reynolds, Saya Sakakibara - women’s event
- BMX racing: Izaac Kennedy - men’s event
Australia’s mountain bike entry for Paris 2024 Olympics
- Rebecca Henderson - women’s event