Advertisement

Logan Martin wins BMX freestyle gold in historic Olympics moment

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Logan Martin, pictured here winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics in freestyle BMX.
Logan Martin won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in freestyle BMX. Image: Getty

Australia's Logan Martin has become the first male gold medallist in BMX freestyle in Olympic Games history.

Martin triumphed in an incredible final on Sunday as BMX freestyle made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games.

HUGE: Novak Djokovic's shock confession amid Olympics drama

'PRETTY OBVIOUS': Ugly details emerge about Jamaican sprint queens

The 27-year-old was untouchable on Sunday, scoring 93.30 in his first run to secure the win after also posting the top scores in Saturday's seeding runs.

The two-time world champion had already secured the gold medal before his final run, completing an incredible victory lap full of his best tricks.

"This is unreal," one commentator said on Channel 7.

It is Australian cycling's first Olympic gold medal since Anna Meares won the women's sprint at the London 2012 Games.

Martin was the only competitor to score more than 90 in Saturday's two seeding runs, confirming he was the man to beat.

He then scored 93.30 in Sunday's first medal run, throwing down the gauntlet again to the rest of the field.

Logan Martin, pictured here competing in the BMX freestyle event at the Tokyo Olympics.
Logan Martin competes in the BMX freestyle event at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

It came down to Japan's Rim Nakamura, who comes from a strong cycling family and is named after a bike part.

With local fans lining a nearby bridge in their thousands to cheer him on, Nakamura made a strong start at Ariake Sports Park but faded late for a score of 85.10.

Martin then started his last run with victory secured, before he pulled up after his foot slipped from the pedal and he saluted the crowd.

Daniel Dhers of Venezuela, at 36 the veteran in the men's competition, won silver with 92.05 on his second run and British rider Declan Brooks scored 90.80 for the bronze.

Australians flocked to social media in disbelief as Martin made Olympic Games history.

Incredible day for Australia at the Olympics

The gold medal gave Australia its 13th at the Tokyo Games and third on the day.

Australia earlier won two more gold medals in the pool - Emma McKeon in the 50m freestyle and the women's 4x100m medley relay team.

Martin's win means Australia is poised to win four Olympic gold medals on one day for the first time in history.

Sailor Matt Wearn will win the fourth gold later on Sunday in the Laser, provided he finishes his medal race and is not disqualified.

Earlier on Sunday, Great Britain's Charlotte Worthington stunned the sport with the first 360 degree backflip in women's competition.

That propelled her past American three-time world champion Hannah Roberts for the gold medal, while Australian Natalya Diehm finished fifth.

with AAP

Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.