‘It just sucks’: tearful Saya Sakakibara supported by brother Kai after Olympic BMX crash
30-Jul-2021 05:46:54 | The Guardian
- Australian rider says she felt she had ‘let everyone down’
- Medal hopes dashed after semi-final crash with Alise Willoughby
Saya Sakakibara was on the final turn, leading the pack with the finish line and an Olympic final in sight. The Australian BMX racer said she was racing for both herself and her brother Kai, who would have been in Tokyo too but for a serious crash last year which left him with permanent brain damage.
But this bend at Ariake Urban Sports Park was particularly steep, and even the most innocuous contact could end it all in an instant. So, when the bike of America’s Alise Willoughby appeared to touch Sakakibara’s back wheel during the third run of the women’s semi-final, the 21-year-old went down.
Related: Team GB claim Olympic double in BMX racing as Shriever gets gold and Whyte silver
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