‘I came back to add the gold’: Sakakibara’s hometown hails its hero

In the hours before her gold medal-winning race, 17,000 kilometres from Paris, Saya Sakakibara was being immortalised on the side of a pet food store south of Sydney.

“It’s 1.20am … 7 degrees, I can’t feel my fingers,” artist Sarah Rowan said as she put the finishing touches on the mural in Sakakibara’s home town of Helensburgh. “I’m going to go to bed and watch her win gold in the morning.”

Sarah Rowan with her mural of Saya and Kai Sakakibara on Short Street, Helensburgh. Credit: Steven Siewert

Sakakibara did just that, landing Australia’s first BMX racing gold medal three years after a crash in Tokyo as her family, including brother Kai who switched to rowing following his own BMX injury, watched on in the stands.

On Saturday morning, Rowan hightailed it back to her mural of the siblings to paint the glistening honour around Saya’s neck.

“I came back to add the gold,” she said.

Speaking to this masthead on Saturday, the professional “speed painter” said the project began when a resident suggested a mural to show the town’s support in a Helensburgh Facebook group last week.

A statue outside Helensburgh Post Office decorated as a tribute to Saya Sakakibara. Credit: Steven Siewert

“I went to the biggest wall in town, and I got the owner and his permission,” Rowan said.

Drawing began on Tuesday, followed by 30 hours of painting from Wednesday, as locals chipped in with donations to cover costs and time.

“When I was painting, the smallest of kids would see the wall and go, ‘Saya! Kai!’” Rowan said.

The community had been “phenomenal” and the vibe was “electric”, she said. “People have been coming up to me crying with excitement.”

Southlake Illawarra BMX Club has thrown its support behind its former member, with young children riding in T-shirts reading “Let’s go, Saya!”

Saya Sakakibara won Australia’s first BMX gold medal in Paris.Credit: AP

Kirrawee High School head PE teacher Amy Anderson recalled Sakakibara’s “natural desire to excel” as a year 12 student in 2017.

“This determination and drive, it’s just in her DNA,” she said. “It’s part of her personality, which is what makes her so successful.”

Anderson said it had been an emotional ride after Sakakibara’s devastating crash in 2021, but the community woke on Saturday morning to watch her achieve gold.

“Our Kirrawee family have all just gone nuts over the internet,” she said. “We’re honoured to share in her success, being part of her childhood, we can’t be more proud.”

She said Kai, who was school captain in 2014, had spoken to students about resilience after his injury, and they would “absolutely love to have” Saya speak when she returns to Australia.

“She’s a beautiful role model for all of the young people, to show what guts and resilience is like, and that anything can be achieved through hard work.”

Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter here.