Lauren Reynolds has created history in Tokyo as the first Australian to compete at three Olympic Games and Australia’s best ever result in the women’s BMX.
After easily moving through to the semifinals yesterday, Reynolds’ campaign hit a speed bump in the first race crashing before making up for it in the next two to book a finals ride.
A strong start in the final saw the Bunbury born Reynolds well positioned early before fading in the mid section of the course before crossing the line in fifth equally Caroline Buchanan’s fifth place in London as Australia’s best result at the Olympic Games.
“It’s a huge step forward when everything is said and done,” Reynolds said.
“I had a crash on my first [semi-final race] and it’s just a fight, that’s all it is out there, it’s a battlefield and whoever can stay up the longest, that’s what I had to do.
“Then when I was in the final I truly believed anything could happen, but it’s OK, I’ll come back.
“Every Olympics has got better, this is the one that I apparently wasn’t supposed to be at, I was supposed to be retired by now, so that’s a personal achievement that makes me feel good but you always want more and I’m not done yet.”
