What we learned: BMX Racing wrap-up from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

BMX Racing at Tokyo 2020 was every bit as exciting as expected at Ariake Urban Sports Park.

Great Britain’s Beth Shriever scored a surprise victory in the women's, just holding off Mariana Pajon to deny the Colombian a hat-trick of Olympic titles.

In the men’s event, Niek Kimmann made his trademark fast start from the outside gate to take the Netherlands’ first gold in BMX racing since its debut at Beijing 2008.

Rio 2016 champion Connor Fields suffered multiple injuries in a heavy crash in the semi-finals, but is making a good recovery after spending a week in hospital.

It's fair to say his sense of humour has not deserted him.

There was disappointment too for USA’s Rio women’s silver medallist Alise Willoughby who also crashed out in the semis.

The medals were shared equally between three nations with two apiece for Great Britain, the Netherlands and Colombia for whom Carlos Ramirez snagged his second consecutive bronze.

We take a look back at the most memorable moments, recap the medal winners, and mark your card as to who to look out for at Paris 2024.

Top 5 BMX Racing moments at Tokyo 2020

Here are some of the highlights from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which took place in 2021.

1: Pajon turns on the afterburners

Mariana Pajon may have been dethroned but she produced the outstanding ride of this or perhaps any Olympic Games.

In the first semi-final heat, she was at the back in sixth place after a crash took out Zoe Claessens and Alise Willoughby.

The Colombian was still fourth on the penultimate straight but flew down the outside to lead going into the final turn and won easing down.

Proof, if any were needed, why she is known as the Queen of BMX.

2: Kimmann claims overdue Dutch success

As perhaps the top nation across both genders in BMX Racing, it was a surprise that no Dutch rider had won Olympic gold. Until now.

Reigning world champion Twan van Gendt might have been considered their best chance before the event, but Niek Kimmann showed he meant business from the off.

While most riders prefer an inside berth at the start, Kimmann usually takes gate eight on the outside and backs himself to get to the first corner first.

The 2015 world champion delivered when it mattered most in the final, getting away superbly before repelling a late charge from Kye Whyte to take gold.

Kiemmann’s success was all the more remarkable given that he had a sore knee from a freak training incident where he hit an official picking the wrong time to cross the track.

3: Shriever dominates completely

A junior world champion in 2017, Shriever showed she could mix it with the best by taking the Supercross World Cup event in Zolder in May 2018.

At this year’s World Cup opener in Verona, the 22-year-old failed to reach the final on the Saturday before taking fifth place on the Sunday.

While that form didn’t exactly scream Olympic gold medallist, Shriever was utterly dominant in Tokyo.

She won the first two of her quarter-final heats and took third in the third having already booked her place in the semi-finals.

Shriever then won all three of her semi-final heats, and the final to take gold with team-mate Kye Whyte cheering wildly as she crossed the line after his silver medal.

4: British double delight

Great Britain had not won a medal in BMX Racing in three previous Games, but Shriever and Whyte changed all that in great style and after adversity.

UK Sport decided to cut funding for women’s BMX riders after Rio 2016 with Shriever working part-time at a children’s nursery and crowdfunding to raise the money she would need to qualify for the Games.

British Cycling’s performance director Stephen Park saw Shriever’s talent and successfully persuaded UK Sport to support her on the road to Tokyo.

Men’s silver medallist Kye Whyte also has an unlikely back story, coming from a housing estate in the inner-city London district of Peckham.

In an area where gang crime is high, he and older brother Tre found Peckham BMX Club and honed their skills.

Tre went on to win World Championship bronze in 2014, but Kye has done even better on the biggest stage of all.

Former world champion Shanaze Reade may have been the trailblazer, but Shriever and Whyte’s success could be the catalyst for a BMX cycling boom in Britain with the sport being more accessible to children in cities than its track and road cousins.

5: Merel Smulders steps out of big sister Laura’s shadow

Before the competition, Laura Smulders was seen as the biggest threat to Mariana Pajon’s hopes of a hat-trick of gold medals.

Laura took bronze at London 2012, and won gold at the 2018 World Championships ahead of younger sister Merel.

But Smulders Sr crashed along with the third Dutch rider, Judy Baauw, at the start of the semi-final heats, and never looked like making the final.

Meanwhile, Merel scraped into the final and scrapped with Pajon for second place before having to settle for a fine bronze medal.

At 23, Smulders Jr looks to be getting better and better and she will have designs on the top spot of the podium in Paris three years from now.

One last look

The big question is whether Mariana Pajon will return at Paris 2024 to try to regain her title.

In the wake of her silver medal, the 29-year-old said she does not have the same power as she did before rupturing knee ligaments in a crash in May 2018.

Pajon also suggested she might make a permanent switch to cycling track having won team sprint gold with Martha Bayona at the Bolivarian Games in 2017.

Could the Queen of BMX become the Queen of the Velodrome? Stay tuned…

Hello Paris

The French team missing out on the medals in Tokyo was something of a surprise, particularly on the men’s front where all three riders made the final.

They will be desperate to go better on home soil in three years’ time and – judging by their performances on the World Cup circuit – there is a long list of contenders for places in Paris.

At 26, Romain Mahieu was the youngest of the trio and has perhaps the best chance of being around in 2024.

All three medallists should be around for the next Games with Kiemmann 25, Whyte 21 and Ramirez 27.

In the women’s event, Japan’s HATAKEYAMA Sae had an unfortunate crash early in her first heat which ended her involvement prematurely. She can certainly perform better with more experience under her belt, as can Switzerland’s Zoe Claessens who just missed out on the final.

Saya Sakakibara of Australia is another young female rider to watch after she and Willoughby collided when battling for the lead in their semi-final heat. If they had stayed upright, both would have progressed to the final.

That said, gold medallist Shriever is only 22 and should be able to put up a strong defence of her title.

When and where to watch BMX Racing replays on Olympics.com

The answer is: olympics.com/tokyo2020-replays

When do the BMX riders compete next?

After a gap of two years, the UCI BMX World Championships take place in the Dutch venue of Arnhem-Papendal on 21-22 August.

Twan van Gendt defends his title from 2019 after beating Niek Kimmann in Zolder, Belgium, with Alise Willoughby bidding to retain the women's crown.

The UCI BMX Supercross World Cup resumes in October with rounds five and six taking place in Sakarya, Turkey on 23-24 October.

The series concludes the following weekend on the same track with rounds seven and eight.

You can see all the action from the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup live on Olympics.com with no geo-restrictions applying.

Full medals list in BMX Racing at Tokyo 2020

Men’s BMX Racing

Gold – Niek Kimmann (NED)

Silver – Kye Whyte (GBR)

Bronze – Carlos Ramirez (COL)

Women’s BMX Racing

Gold – Beth Shriever (GBR)

Silver – Mariana Pajon (COL)

Bronze – Merel Smulders (NED)