| Strombergs retains BMX race title |
LONDON Latvia’s Maris Strombergs, a man who cried when he first saw a BMX race, remained the only men’s Olympic champion in the discipline when he retained his title at the London Games on Friday.
Strombergs, who had failed to impress in the quarter and semi-finals, found his form to lead from the first bend to the finish line to beat Australian world champion and pre-race favourite Sam Willoughby.
Colombian Carlos Mario Oquendo Zabala claimed bronze.
Strombergs had won the first Olympic men’s BMX title four years ago when the discipline was introduced in the Games in Beijing.
“When I started BMX, I was crying to be honest. I was 5-years-old when my father took me to the BMX track and when I saw all those big guys jumping those big doubles, I started crying,” Strombergs said.
“I said ‘No way dad’. But after another month I said to my dad, ‘OK, I’ll go again’ and that’s how I started.”
Strombergs had a great start and managed the first bend better than anyone else and kept his composure despite being under intense pressure from Willoughby.
“It was a pretty up and down two days but I don’t think anyone had a clean two days. Maris made a few mistakes yesterday and today I had a few mistakes but I ended up getting the job done and I am very satisfied getting a silver medal,” said Willoughby.
“Me and Maris have been battling the last three to four years and I have got nothing but respect for him. To win two golds in a row is a huge achievement, and to get a silver in my first Olympics is a huge honour.”
Dutchman Raymon van der Biezen, who had clocked the best time in the seeding run and had won his three quarterfinal runs as well as the first of three semi-final dashes, settled for fourth. American Connor Fields was one of two riders who crashed and took seventh place ahead of home hope Liam Phillips.
Phillips had been in decent form since Friday but lost control in the penultimate bend while he seemed in contention for a podium finish.
France’s Joris Daudet, who was among the favourites coming into the Games, crashed in the third run of the semi-finals and did not take part in the final run on the 450-metre track at the VeloPark.
Mariana Pajon, Colombia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, earned her country their first gold medal of the London Games when she thundered to victory in the women’s BMX event.
Pajon, who had dominated her three semi-final runs in awe-inspiring fashion, led the eight-rider strong field after the first bend and never looked back.
New Zealand’s Sarah Walker took silver and Dutchwoman Laura Smulders claimed bronze while local hope Shanaze Reade settled for sixth.
She finished just behind Caroline Buchanan of Australia, the BMX time trial world champion.
Pajon, who blew kisses to the capacity crowd, said: “I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream come true. I’ve been trying to win this my whole life. I just wanted go out of the gate and win it. It’s unbelievable.”
On a very tricky course, Pajon once again used her explosive start to take the early lead, which proved unassailable for her rivals.
Reuters
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