Paris 2024 cycling: All results, as Jose Torres Gil of Argentina grabs thrilling gold in men's BMX freestyle
Picture by 2024 Getty Images
Jose Torres Gil of Argentina won a thrilling gold medal in men’s BMX freestyle at La Concorde on 31 July, with a steller score of 94.82.
Team GB's Kieran Reilly took silver with 93.91, while home favourite Anthony Jeanjean sealed bronze on 93.76.
Torres Gil had a flawless first run, recording 94.82 which stood for the entire competition. For Argentina, this is their first ever individual medal in the event and their first medal at Paris 2024.
The 29-year-old had taken silver in men’s freestyle park at the 2019 Pan American Games before capturing gold in the same event at the 2023 Pan American Games. He now adds a gold to this trophy cabinet on his Olympic debut.
Reilly found himself in third place entering his final run, pulling out a score of 93.91 to secure silver. Following his final trick, he tossed his bike away and stood triumphantly with his hands in the air, taking in his accomplishment.
The 23-year-old from Newcastle, England, has displayed great promise in recent years, winning gold in freestyle park at both the 2023 European Games and 2023 World Championships.
Jeanjean, silver medallist at the 2023 European Championships and 2023 European Games, appeared disappointed after he was overtaken by Reilly, but still was able to claim bronze behind a strong second run.
The Frenchman did not complete his first run, only tallying a score of 3.22, but displayed real resilience to respond with a score of 93.76 to ensure his place on the podium.
Logan Martin, who won gold in this event at Tokyo 2020, recorded a high score of 64.40 on the day and was unable to defend his medal.
Jose Torres Gil makes history for Argentina
While Torres Gil was proud of his individual accomplishment, he emphasized the importance of winning the first medal of Paris 2024 for Argentina**.**
"I still haven't thought about what I just achieved. Argentina has not won a single medal until today, and my medal is for everybody," Torres Gil said. "I'm representing all of these athletes, and I'm really overjoyed to bring back a gold medal in this sport to Argentina, and I hope that the Argentinian people are also happy about it."
Reilly secured the second consecutive medal for Team GB in men's BMX freestyle after Declan Brooks won bronze in Tokyo.
"It’s a crazy feeling," Reilly said. "I watched Tokyo three years ago so to get here was a dream of mine and to be on the podium feels amazing.
"I wanted to play to my strengths and try and score some points and some criteria that people didn't expect. So I went away and put in the work and I really left it on the course."
Jeanjean overcame a fall in his first run to capture bronze in his home country and he expressed pride in overcoming this adversity.
"It's not easy. I haven't felt all week was the first one of the week, so I wasn't expecting it at all, but it's name of the game," he said. "I know that it wasn't over yet and that I had to give it all I had for the second run. That's what I did. It went well, despite the couple of mistakes made."
Cycling: Men's BMX freestyle podium
Gold: Jose Torres Gil, Argentina
Silver: Kieran Reilly, Great Britain
Bronze: Anthony Jeanjean, France