‘We did it’: Saya Sakakibara delivers gold medal in emotional scenes

Hearts have melted in Paris after Australian BMX star Saya Sakakibara secured the gold medal and dedicated it to her brother.

Australian BMX star Saya Sakakibara etched her name into the record books after storming clear of the field to win the gold medal on Saturday (AEST).

Sakakibara was untouchable throughout the event as she won all three quarter-final and semi-final runs before putting together the race of her life in the final.

A perfect start out of the gate saw her take the first bend in front before she blitzed away from her rivals and crossed the line well clear of Manon Veenstra and Zoe Claessens.

As she crossed the line, the emotion of the moment hit as the Aussie collapsed to the ground while her French boyfriend Romain Mahieu embraced her.

What a moment. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)

Saya is embraced by Romain. The couple collected a gold and bronze medal in the event. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

The 24-year-old couldn’t quite believe what had just unfolded as she let rip several F-bombs in an emotionally charged interview.

“I honestly can’t believe it right now. It all feels like a blur,” Sakakibara said after the race.

“I just envisaged the moment, I visualised being on the podium, hearing the national anthem and having the gold medal around my neck. I envisaged that.

“I knew it just comes down to like a split second and all I had to do was just f**king go, and I just f**king went and I didn’t want to leave here without making myself proud. Make these setbacks worthwhile.

“I just want to see my parents, I couldn’t see them in the crowd. I saw Kai. I knew that either way I was going to end in tears. From the start of this week, I had Covid the start of the week.

“Either way it is going to end in tears and I wanted to make sure they are happy tears.

“It is crazy. I feel that it’s a dream. It is real, right?”

When asked about what the win meant for her family, Saya delivered a telling three word response.

“We did it,” she said.

Saya dedicated the gold medal to her brother Kai. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Racing with the number 77 on the front of her bike, Sakakibara was riding with her brother Kai on her shoulders.

Kai was forced to retire from BMX racing in 2020 after suffering a serious brain injury at a world cup event.

Ahead of the Games, Saya vowed to bring the gold medal home for her brother. She achieved that dream with Kai in the stands watching on.

“I’m shaking,” he said.

“It’s crazy because three years ago she could have done it but she didn’t and now she is doing it. It’s crazy. It really is crazy.”

The moment left those watching on and those in attendance in tears as Saya achieved the dream for her and her brother.

Daily Mail journalist Josh Alston wrote on X: “Hands down the moment of these Olympic Games. Not a dry eye in the house.”

Broadcaster Melanie McLaughlin wrote: “So many tears. In awe of this family-have been for many many years. Pure joy and pure magic from Saya and of course, the beautiful Kai. She did it!”

Channel 9’s Andrew Hawkins wrote: “It’s been a morning of emotion for Australia but think Saya Sakakibara’s gold medal will take the cake. Heartbreak in Tokyo, riding for her injured brother Kai, centimetre-perfect all day today in Paris. Truly sensational!”

Hook it into my views man, the feels, Saya & Kai Sakakibara ❤🎖🇦🇺#Paris2024#Olympicspic.twitter.com/xhPU826xTG

— Tony Tannous (@TonyTannousTRBA) August 2, 2024

In an emotional video posted ahead of the Paris Games, Kai said he felt “pride, love and excitement”, watching his sister compete.

“She does it’s for both of us. She wears my race number – 77. It’s like I’m there with her … Saya and I never give up.”

The video left Today Show host Ally Langdon in tears along with Saya.

“It’s bringing tears to my eyes,” Saya said. “To see it together and hear him say those words, it’s making me very emotional already. BMX means a lot and it means a lot to both Kai and I.”

Sealed with a kiss. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Saya’s journey to the top of the dais almost never came to fruition after the Aussie came close to walking away from the sport due to repeated concussions.

Her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games ended in horror scenes following a semi-final crash that left her being stretchered out of the arena.

But nothing was going to stop her in Paris as the two-time world champion dominated a star-studded final field to become an Olympic champion.

“She said so many times, all the fear she had to silence in her head, came back from concussions last year and the entire team, her coach there, everyone believed in her performance so much,” Caroline Buchanan said on Channel 9.

“She stepped back up to the plate of BMX when everything told her, her brother’s traumatic brain injury, and she said ‘I’m not going to let the fear break me.’

“And she is now an Olympic champion.”