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Reynolds vows to come back after defeat

 

Reynolds vows to come back after defeat

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AOC
Lauren Reynolds competes during heat two of the Women's BMX semi-final.

CYCLING - BMX: Lauren Reynolds has equalled Australia's best ever result in women's Olympic BMX racing, landing fifth in the final on a dramatic day in Tokyo.

Competing at her third Games, Reynolds' performance equalled Caroline Buchanan's fifth placing in the final in London in 2012. 

Today Great Britain's Bethany Shriever won gold, silver went to two-time Olympic champion Mariana Pajon of Colombia and Merel Smulders of the Netherlands rounded out the podium. 

"It's a huge step forward when everything is said and done," Reynolds said. 

"I had a crash on my first [semi-final race] and it's just a fight, that's all it is out there, it's a battlefield and whoever can stay up the longest, that's what I had to do. 

"Then when I was in the final I truly believed anything could happen, but it's OK, I'll come back. 

"Every Olympics has got better, this is the one that I apparently wasn't supposed to be at, I was supposed to be retired by now, so that's a personal achievement that makes me feel good but you always want more and I'm not done yet."

On an emotional day for the Australian team, Reynolds' teammate Saya Sakakibara appeared headed for the final after winning the second heat of her semi-final run.

She then crashed out in the third heat, along with American Alise Willoughby, and was devastated to miss out on a shot at an Olympic medal on debut. 

"I don't really know what happened, my starts were going really well and I just came down with Alise who caught up to me and we came down together," Sakakibara said. 

"It's so disappointing I feel like I let everyone down, especially my brother [Kai]. 

"Seeing them (family) was really emotional because they were so happy to see that I was OK. 

"BMX, this is what it is. I started off with a fifth (in the semi-final run) and had to come back with a better result which was first, and had a really good start in that third one but went down and to be honest I can't believe it's over. 

"It just really sucks for sure, I can't believe it's over." 

BMX action continues on Saturday with men's and women's seeding in the freestyle competition.

David Taylor

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