Kye Whyte and Bethany Shriever reach their respective BMX Olympic semi-finals as Team GB’s medal hopes in the event remain on track
Team GB‘s bid to win a medal in BMX are still intact after both Kye Whyte and Bethany Shriever qualified for their respective semi-finals.
Whyte, 19, came second in his heat behind Sylvain Andre of France, while Shriever, 22, took first place in her heat.
The pair will race in Friday’s semi-finals ahead with the aim of reaching the showpiece later that day.
Great Britain rider Kye Whyte is through to the semi-finals of the men’s BMX event
Elsewhere, Colombia’s BMX queen Mariana Pajon began her quest for a hat-trick of Olympic titles on Thursday exactly how she left off in Rio five years ago – looking invincible.
Pajon won all three heats of her quarter-final group and while it is impossible to glide around the snaking circuit in such a high-tempo sport, she looked supremely smooth.
American Connor Field, like Pajon coming in as Olympic champion, also made a commanding start at a baking-hot Ariake Urban Sport Park, winning two of his races and placing second in the other to roll into Friday’s semi-finals.
The top four riders from the three-race semi-finals will progress to the final.
Bethany Shriever (left) is also through to the final four of the BMX in the women’s competition
Advertisement