Spectators weren't allowed in the stands, with instead athletes and coaches filling out the bleachers, but a nearby bridge overlooking the BMX park was packed with Japanese spectators hoping to see Rim Nakamura (Japan) claim the top spot on the podium as BMX Freestyle made its debut in the Olympics.
However, it was Australian Logan Martin, two-time world champion and two-time X-Games gold medallist in Park BMX that took the win, his first run for a score of 93.30 securing the gold medal and his second run a flamboyant victory lap filled with some bigger tricks that Martin had been building up to with his first foray.
“I have no words," said Martin. "This is crazy. It’s been such a long journey to get here. I fully set out to get here and win the gold medal. I came in as the favourite after winning the world championships last month, so I had a lot of pressure coming into Japan."
Martin's world championships-winning runs were arguably even more adventurous than his gold medal performance, his opening 60 seconds a 'safe' option that delivered the biggest result in Martin's career.
“I won the seeding run, then came out here and my first run was actually a safety run," said Martin. "I wanted to land a run I knew I could deliver, make it clean, keep it consistent, and that really paid off.
"I had more to do in my second run, but I obviously didn’t need to do it. I did do the front bike flip, but I just wanted to do that for the fans and everyone watching back home.
“It’s so amazing. I just delivered what the judges wanted out there, a very consistent run, and yeah, I’m so stoked.”
36-year-old Venezuelan veteran Daniel Dhers came close in the second run, with Declan Brooks (Great Britain) finishing third, but with Martin last to go by virtue of finishing first in the seeding round, it was already a done deal for the final rankings. His last lap was a celebration as much as competition, and after not landing perfectly on a triple tailwhip the Gold Coast local pulled up to celebrate the victory.
“I’ve had so many highs in my career, but I’ve never, ever gotten teary, so that just shows how meaningful this one is to me," said Martin. "It’s the biggest stage of them all, the gold medal, to bring that home and show my son. For him to look up to me … it’s amazing.”
Charlotte Worthington (Great Britain) won the women's BMX Freestyle Final, with Australia's Natalya Diehm in fifth.
