Husband and wife mountain bikers and first-time BMX riders named for Tokyo Olympics

Six more Aussies have punched their ticket to Tokyo, including three first-time Olympians in a brand new sport to the Games.

Daniel McConnell is going to the Olympics with his wife Rebecca. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Husband and wife duo Daniel and Rebecca McConnell will tackle their first Olympics as a married couple after being named to spearhead Australia‘s mountain bike charge in Tokyo.

It will a combined seventh Olympics for the veteran cycling couple, with Daniel set to become the first Australian mountain biker to compete in four Games.

Six more athletes were confirmed as Tokyo-bound on Wednesday, including Lauren Reynolds, who becomes the first Australian BMX rider to make three Olympics.

Logan Martin, who was crowned world champion last week, and Natalya Diehm will make history as Australia’s first Olympic BMX freestylers when the discipline makes its Games debut in Tokyo.

Another debutant, Saya Sakakibara, who was born in Japan, completes the women’s BMX racing team for Tokyo.

“To be honest, it feels so surreal,” Sakakibara said.

“It’s been a dream since I was a little girl to go to the Olympics – to actually reach that goal is amazing.

“The story doesn’t end here though – I’ve made my first Olympic team selection, but the journey starts here.

History will be made with the six @AusCyclingTeam Athletes named for #Tokyo2020 today!#selected#TokyoTogether@AusCyclingAushttps://t.co/89XOEcM1uZ

— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) June 16, 2021

Martin, from Queensland, is still completing hotel quarantine after returning from claiming his second world championship title in Montpellier, France.

“I‘m extremely stoked to not only be selected on the Australian team for the Tokyo Olympic Games but also to be the first Australian ever to be going to the Olympics for freestyle BMX, that’s massive,” Martin said.

“Becoming the world champion for the second time is really something special, and to do it just a month out from the Olympics was perfect for my selection onto the team.”

With a massive score of 94.40, Logan Martin became the first ever two-time @UCI_BMX_FS World Champion over night! 🏆🏆 🌈#TokyoTogether | @AusCyclingTeam https://t.co/InORqgyOK9

— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) June 8, 2021

Originally published as Husband and wife mountain bikers and first-time BMX riders named for Tokyo Olympics