‘Tragic’: Aussie gold medal hope wiped out in terrifying BMX crash

The most heartbreaking moment of the Olympics has unfolded at the BMX track as our gold medal hope was wiped out in terrifying scenes.

Saya Sakakibara was carried off the track. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Australian star racer Saya Sakakibara was stretchered off the track after a horror crash in the semi-finals of the BMX racing in Tokyo.

Sakakibara was hit from behind in the third run of the second semi-final and was unable to get back to her feet.

Her crash came just minutes after American champion Connor Fields was also taken to hospital after an ugly crash.

Channel 7 commentators described the scenes at the BMX as “carnage” and said the injury to Sakakibara was “tragic” — particularly since her brother suffered a horror injury in the sport last year.

Sakakibara was eventually escorted from the track on a stretcher in terrifying scenes.

Saya Sakalkibara is stretchered off after a crash during the semi-finals. Picture: Alex Coppel

Saya Sakakibara crashed during the women’s BMX racing event.

Speaking after the race, Sakakibara said she was “confused”.

“I’m definitely confused … I honestly I don’t really know what happened, but I know that I was riding really well,” she said.

“My stats were going really well. I came down with Alise [Willoughby] who caught up with me, we came down together. That’s all I remember.

“Yeah, this is so disappointing. I feel like I have let everyone down, especially my brother.”

Australian Olympic BMX rider Saya Sakakibara. Picture Glenn Hampson

She said she was “cut off” in the crash by USA rider Alise Willoughby, who is married to former Australian Olympian Sam Willoughby.

“Yeah, unfortunately got cut off by Alise and went down, yeah, to be honest I can’t believe it’s over,” she said. “It didn’t really hit me until I watched that women’s race. Yeah, just really sucks for sure. I can’t believe it’s over.”

There was more reason for Australians watching on to feel for the Sakakibara family as everyone waited and hoped for some good news.

Saya Sakakibara crashes in the final semifinal run of the BMX. #Tokyo2020   #OlympicGames  #BMXRacing  #Australia#crashpic.twitter.com/YuZCkcvdQQ

— Van (@van_comedy) July 30, 2021

Her brother Kai, who turned 25 on Thursday, should have been in Tokyo too. A BMX superstar himself, he was expected to shoot for a medal.

But at the beginning of last year, he suffered a horrific accident that caused severe injuries. He was in a coma for two months and for a period, doctors weren’t sure whether he was going to live.

Thankfully, he is a fighter. An eight-month stay in hospital saw him start to learn to walk and talk again, and he was watching on at home as his little sister qualified for Friday’s semi-finals.

Channel 7 crossed to the Sakakibara family back home once it was established she was OK, where Kai had a beautiful message for his sister.

“Today was all about finishing off what we started yesterday, which was to qualify through to the final, but unfortunately Saya had a bad stack and that didn’t happen,” Kai said. “So that was really annoying.

“But either way I’m really proud of her. I can’t wait to see her race again.

“Saya, I know this isn’t what you wanted, but either way I’m proud and let’s go and prepare for the next one.”

His sister said she was doing it all for him.

“I’m here for the both of us,” Saya said on Thursday. “I’m living the Olympic dream at the moment and he’s on that journey with me all the way.

“With all the pressures that comes with the Olympics, I really wanted to show my best performance for him for his birthday as well. I think I was able to do that.”

Oh no, please let Saya Sakakibara be ok - surely this family has been through enough… 🙏🏼 #Tokyo2020 @AUSOlympicTeam

— Giaan Rooney (@GiaanRooney) July 30, 2021

Earlier, Fields was taken to hospital after being carried off the track during the men’s BMX Racing semi-finals.

Fields was seen being loaded into the back of an ambulance near the track.

Fields was unable to finish the third heat when he went down hard in a sickening face first crash near the start of the first turn of the circuit.

Fields was the defending Olympic champion.