SA BMX star Anthony Dean eyes Tokyo 2020 Olympics success to honour injured riders Sam Willoughy and Kai Sakakibara
South Australian BMX star Anthony Dean says the serious crashes that left Sam Willoughby paralysed and Kai Sakakibara fighting for his life have made him reassess his career, while driving his bid for Olympic glory.
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A pair of serious crashes that left one friend paralysed and another fighting for his life has made Anthony Dean reassess his BMX career while driving his bid for Olympic glory.
The SA rider watched on in horror at a World Cup event earlier this month as Australian teammate Kai Sakakibara sustained a head injury and was later placed in an induced coma.
It came three years on from fellow Croweater Sam Willoughby, now Dean’s coach, breaking his neck in a training accident in the US.
The former Wynn Vale resident said the devastating setbacks had highlighted the dangers of the sport, but also helped him cherish his opportunity at this year’s Tokyo Games.
“Going through what I went through with Sam and now Kai is tough,” Dean, 28, said.
“It’s definitely hard to understand what’s happened to both of them.
“For me to keep pushing forward, it really makes you question what you’re doing.
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“But it just makes you appreciate every day and every lap.
“Everyone takes a lot of things for granted, but this definitely brings it back into perspective.
“I’ve drawn a lot from Sam ... and it’s going to be the same with Kai.
“My ultimate dream is to have a World Championship medal and an Olympic medal.
“I’m sure they would both say ‘go full steam’.”
Dean demonstrated the rich talent that has made him an Olympic medal chance with second and fourth-placed finishes in the opening two World Cup rounds in Shepparton a month ago.
But he had just completed his heat in wet and windy conditions at the third event of the global series in Bathurst, NSW, a week later when disaster struck.
Gold Coast-born Sakakibara lost control approaching a corner as he led in the final qualifying race, forcing him to crash heavily.
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“Given the conditions, a lot of people took it a little bit easier like myself,” said Dean, who witnessed the mishap on a big screen trackside.
“But Kai had watched everyone’s position and I’m sure he analysed, ‘I can go a little bit quicker here, here and here’.
“Unfortunately he just went that 110 per cent ... and made a normal mistake that any of us can make.
“You know the seriousness of a big crash, seeing the helicopter come in to airlift him.
“It gives me goosebumps talking about it.
“He’s going to have a long road ahead to get better and fingers crossed there’s the best outcome possible.”
Sakakibara, 23, was flown to Canberra Hospital, where he had surgery to relieve pressure on his brain and remains in a medically-induced coma.
Dean said the news had rocked the BMX community, much in the way Willoughby’s life-changing blow had in September 2016.
But he hoped success at the July-August Olympics would deliver much-needed joy for the Australian team, after he won five of six heats at the Rio Games only to crash in the final.
“I’ve thought about that race at least once a week for the last four years,” said Dean, sixth at last season’s world titles
“It’s definitely put me in a mind space to not let it happen again in 2020.
“Ultimately, it’s driven me to go again and give it a real hot shot.
“If I can fulfil that (Olympic) dream, I can be satisfied with my BMX career.”
Dean has spent an extended three-month period back home with his family, often checking in on the Square 44 Cafe he co-owns at Surrey Downs.
He has trained under the watchful eye of his father, Greg Dean, on local tracks, including his junior club Cross Keys, where he and Willoughby regularly battled it out as youngsters.
Dean returns to his US base in San Diego this weekend, ready to ramp up his assault on May’s world championships in Houston and secure his ticket to Tokyo.
“I really think we’re coming into these events with the best package out of anyone,” said Dean, who practices with Willoughby’s wife and US world champion, Alise Willoughby.
“But if it wasn’t for Sam helping me do this, I probably would be stopped doing it by now.
“I feel great energy having him by my side and I’ve started the year really dominant.
“I’m doing it for myself and he wants me to do it for myself, but at the same time I’d love to be able win something for Sam.
“It would be our medal.”
Originally published as SA BMX star Anthony Dean eyes Tokyo 2020 Olympics success to honour injured riders Sam Willoughy and Kai Sakakibara