Australia's BMX gold medallist Saya Sakakibara triumphed over setbacks and trauma at Paris 2024 Olympics
Saya Sakakibara's journey to Olympic gold was inspirational.
The Australian won the cycling BMX Racing women’s final on Friday (2 August), fulfilling a lifelong dream and capping off a perfect day at the SQY BMX Stadium.
Given the journey she went on to get to that point, the athlete was washed with emotion at the finish line.
“I'm just grateful,” Sakakibara told Olympics.com after an emotional victory.
“Sport gives you so many experiences that makes you grow so much because you go into events feeling hopeful and you don't always get what you want and those are the moments where you grow the most.”
Saya Sakakibara, a road of adversity to gold
Sakakibara has gone through huge challenges over the last four years. Her brother and fellow BMX racer, Kai, had a traumatic crash in 2020 where he suffered life-changing injuries and had to retire early.
The accident greatly affected her and almost made Saya quit the sport, but she eventually overcame the fear.
Then the following year at Tokyo 2020, Sakakibara suffered a concussion and finished ninth in the BMX Racing women’s competition. She suffered more concussions and injuries in 2022, including lung bruising from another crash.
But Sakakibara did not give up, and on a cool Parisian night in August, it finally paid off.
“I had a lot of those moments from when Kai had his accident to being really hopeful for Tokyo, not getting what I want and then the season after that was no good,” the gold medallist explained. “Those are the moments that made me really reflect on what is it that is missing.
“It made me go through the drastic changes that I needed to find that relationship with BMX again finding that identity of who am I as a racer, and those moments are really, really crucial to get me to this point.”
Saya Sakakibara of Team Australia competes during the women's final of BMX racing
Sakakibara cheered on by loved ones in double Olympic success
Brother Kai was there to watch Saya cross the line and claim Olympic BMX Racing gold, and she was in tears when they reunited straight after the race. It was a win for the Sakakibara siblings, who had overcome so much together.
There was another special someone awaiting her on the finish line. Sakakibara’s partner and fellow BMX racer Romain Mahieu had just secured bronze in a historic 1-2-3 for France in the men’s final, and he was the first person to embrace her upon victory.
Despite what he had just achieved, the Frenchman was more emotional when talking about her success than his own.
“I didn't even have time to realise what I did,” Mahieu admitted to Olympics.com at the end of competition.
"And she went and she won gold. I’m more proud of her than what I did.
“I don't know why, but that's what I feel now because she's been through a lot. It's been hard for her and it's just everything that she deserves. So yeah, I’m really proud.”
Sakakibara’s gold medal is a testament to her grit and determination, which has culminated with the ultimate destination of Olympic gold.