Reynolds Crash Ends Rio Campaign at Semis

BMX: Semi Finals

Athlete: Lauren Reynolds

Venue: Olympic BMX Centre

WA BMX star Lauren Reynolds has missed the final of the women’s BMX at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after a crash in run two of the semi finals hurt her prospects.

The Bunbury athlete was left with work to do after finishing sixth in the opening run, before disaster struck on the second of three runs, when she collided with a rival and was brought to ground, effectively ending her qualification hopes.

Reynolds picked herself up to cross the line seventh, but with 13 points accrued, she needed a race win and other results to go her way.

She did manage a fourth place effort in a solid run in the final leg, but it was not to be. Australian teammate Caroline Buchanan also crashed out – in the third run – and missed the final in a disappointing result for the Australian team.

Reynolds reflected on her miss, as part of the sport. The unpredictable nature of racing, whilst potentially devastating, is also part of its appeal.

“Very disappointed, I had my best preparation I ever had,” she said. “But it is our sport, BMX is crazy, I think today has showed that.

“It is a real disappointment, but you can’t dwell on it too much.

“I don’t regret anything I did today, as if I had held up I would have been upset with myself.”

Colombian World Champion and crowd favourite Mariana Pajon dominated the other semi-final and went on to win gold in the final. American Alise Post took silver and Stefany Hernandez from Venezuela earned bronze.

In the men’s competition, Fields was joined on the podium by Twan van Gendt who won silver with Colombia’s Carlos Ramirez Yepez winning bronze.