TOKYO – Even at the Olympics, there can be a serious randomness to BMX races. No matter how well a cyclist rides, an accident, a collision or even a small skid can eliminate his chance for a medal.
Connor Fields of the United States, the defending gold medalist, was in excellent shape after finishing third and first in his first two semi-final heats. But near the lead again in the third heat, he snapped the rider’s wheel in the front and fell down in a three-bike crash.
Medical personnel participated in the field for several minutes before being taken off the track on stretchers and taken to the hospital. A US Olympic official said Fields was “wake up and awaiting further medical evaluation.” Even though he didn’t finish the heat, he would have had enough points to run into the final if he had been fit.
The men’s winner was Neik Kimman of the Netherlands, the 2015 world champion, who finished a disappointing seventh at the Rio Games a year later. Kimman made headlines this week crashed into an officer who had strayed on the course during a training race.
“Over the past weeks, I’ve felt in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” Kimman said. “Of course, there was a lot of pressure, but I was confident. And then I hit that officer, and I felt like my dream was over. But luckily, even with painkillers, that dream was still alive.”
On the women’s side, Britain’s Bethany Shriver managed to surpass the randomness, winning all three of her heats and then the final. As he finished his 44-second run, his countryman Kay White, who won the silver medal in the men’s race, cheered loudly for him, then lifted him off the ground in a bear hug as he rubbed his face in disbelief. The hand was held
Shriver, who wasn’t even a projected finalist, turned to crowdfunding to support her career after it was decided by British sports authorities in 2019. Focus Your Financing on Male BMX Riders Because their results were better.
“I kept my cool today, kept it simple, and it worked,” she said.
Mishaps in both the first and third women’s heats ended the hopes of Alice Willoughby of the United States, who was the silver medalist; His third place in the second heat was in vain.
The race was delayed by 45 minutes due to torrential rain on the track. A dozen workers bravely used industrial blow dryers and squeegees to soak up some of the moisture. But riders said they do not think wetness contributed to the accidents.