Paris Olympics 2024: Natalya Diehm claims historic bronze for Australia in BMX freestyle

Natalya Diehm has delivered one of the most unlikely success stories of the Paris Olympics, overcoming five knee reconstructions to secure bronze. Unfortunately, Logan Martin was unable to repeat his heroics from Tokyo.

BMX warrior Natalya Diehm has delivered one of the stories of the Paris Olympics by securing a dream bronze medal after an extraordinary five knee reconstructions.

The mentally defiant Queenslander pumped her fist and held back tears as she finished on the podium in the women’s BMX freestyle final.

Diehm put down two monster runs with her score of 88.80 securing her bronze medal and lifelong dream.

The stunning result for Diehm is one of the Games’ great stories of persistence.

The 26-year-old was set to quit the sport after requiring a fifth knee reconstruction after finishing fifth in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Natalya Diehm held onto bronze in the BMX. Picture: Adam Head

“I had two weeks of quarantine by myself after Tokyo and with the knee injury, knowing I was going in for surgery was so tough,’’ Diehm said.

“For how long I was going to be out was unknown and it was hard to imagine getting through this again and catching up to the progression of the other girls when I was out.

“As time went on and I had the surgeries and the pain started to subside one per cent every day, it kind of got me through be back loving what I do.

“I’ve been doing it for so long I couldn’t not try again.’’

Natalya Diehm celebrates her bronze in the Park Freestyle BMX at La Concorde Picture: Adam Head

Olympic champion Logan Martin is next up on the BMX freestyle course in Paris where he is aiming to defend his Tokyo gold medal.

By claiming her dream Olympic medal, Diehm also created history by becoming the first female to finish on the podium at an international BMX event.

Natalya Diehm flies high at La Concorde. Picture Emmanuel Dunand / AFP

“I don’t even know how to put it into words,’’ Diehm said.

“I’m lost with myself, I don’t know what to do, where to go, what to say.

“It was definitely the most nerve-wracking moment of my life. Coming down to the last rider Hannah Roberts (USA) being one of my best friends.

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“I just didn’t know which way it was going to go, I just wanted that podium so badly and I can’t believe that it’s here.

“I wanted this so badly.

“To be the first female Aussie rider to get an Olympic medal (in BMX), but not only that I am the first Aussie BMX freestyle rider that has got a medal at any international event.

“We have never medalled at a world cup event at all. So to do it on the biggest world stage in Paris, that’s going down in history.

“I’ve written history, which is insane.’’

MARTIN CRASHES IN DEFENCE OF TITLE

A heavy crash has shattered Logan Martin’s BMX gold medal defence in Paris.

The Tokyo Olympic champion showed his champion qualities in a desperate bid to get back on his bike and find the scores to retain his BMX freestyle crown.

Martin suffered a first run crash that relegated him to second-last with one run to go.

He had no choice but to go for broke in his second run.

Martin re-loaded for a second run, but his efforts to go big came undone when he failed to stick a backward jump.

Logan Martin was unable to defend his Olympic title after crashing in the final. Picture Odd Andersen / AFP

Martin finished ninth with a final score of 64.40.

It was the Tokyo Olympic champion’s attitude to throw everything at his gold medal defence that led to his heavy fall in his first run.

Martin was on track for a monster score in his first run after completing an array of huge flips and aerials before he fell short of his landing with only six seconds remaining.

The Queenslander held his leg for a moment, before finding his feet.

An almost perfect ride from Argentinian Jose Torres Gil that the judges scored an incredible 94.82 was the level of extraordinary skill that was required for Martin to be dethroned.

Originally published as Paris Olympics 2024: Natalya Diehm claims historic bronze for Australia in BMX freestyle