Defending Olympic champion Beth Shriever showcased her dominance in the women's BMX racing, securing a place in the semi-finals after a flawless quarter-final performance.
The 25-year-old, a two-time world champion, powered her way to victory in all three of her heats, leaving no doubt about her determination to reclaim the gold medal in Paris. Shriever, alongside Saya Sakakibara of Australia and the USA's Alise Willoughby, were the only riders to achieve a clean sweep, ensuring their comfortable progression to the next round.
"It couldn't have gone any better," Shriever said, beaming after her impressive performance. "I'm just here to enjoy it and soak up every moment, so the fact it's going this well is a fantastic bonus. My friends and family are all here, and I'm loving every second of it. It's really special. The crowd is absolutely mental! They're going wild. I expected it, the French love BMX, and it's getting the recognition and hype it deserves."
Meanwhile, Tokyo silver medallist Kye Whyte faced a different kind of challenge, battling through a resurgence of a back issue to secure his place in the semi-finals. The Peckham native finished in the top four across his heats, ensuring he avoided the last-chance races despite the persistent pain.
"Practice went really well, but for the past seven weeks, I've been struggling to train and ride due to back issues," Whyte explained. "And today, they decided to make their presence known. I'm in a lot of pain, it's going down my back and legs. I just tried my hardest to make sure I finished in the top four and qualified for tomorrow.
"The course is very tight and technical. We've raced in Paris before, but the track is much faster now, which makes the turns tricky. You could see people going for it and crashing, so I just wanted to stay safe and qualify."
The men's semi-finals will kick off the proceedings tomorrow at 19:00 BST, followed by the women's 15 minutes later. The final medal races will take place just over an hour after the semi-finals, promising a thrilling conclusion to the BMX racing event.
