Kye Whyte claims Team GB’s first EVER medal in BMX Racing as a sensational display sees the Peckham-born star land silver with the Netherlands’ Niek Kimmann narrowly beating him to the gold medal
- Kye Whyte won silver for Team GB to claim a first medal for Britain in BMX
- He finished just behind the Netherland’s Niek Kimmann in a superb display
- A late crash from Romain Mahieu split the field, allow the two to race ahead
Kye Whyte earned Great Britain’s first BMX racing Olympic medal with silver at the Tokyo Games.
The 21-year-old Londoner, having been hampered by poor starts in qualifying, made it into the first corner of the final in second place and held his position as Niek Kimmann took gold for Holland.
The two crossed the line with a healthy margin after a late crash for Frenchman Romain Mahieu split the field, with Colombian Carlos Ramirez Yepes taking bronze.
BMX racer Tye Whyte has claimed silver for Team GB in Britain first medal in the event
Whyte had shown in qualifying he had the speed to contend if only he could get off the line, needing to recover from poor starts in the first two runs but then winning the final one to be sure of his place in the final.
And there were no mistakes when it really mattered as Whyte quickly got himself into position.
Defending champion Connor Field of the United States was unable to contest the final after crashing heavily in the last run of his semi-final, leaving the track on a stretcher.
More to follow.