Sakakibara and NSWIS Pal, Sienna, strike in USA

Olympic gold medallist Saya Sakakibara overcame some challenging conditions – and frustrations with the first jump – to win her first race back since her memorable Paris 2024 triumph.

While making it clear in a video diary she compiled for her Facebook followers during competition at the USABMX Pro Series in Rock Hill, Carolina that her performance wasn’t ‘perfect,’ Sakakibara made a sage point.

 “The biggest thing was not to be hard on myself and take the wins,” she wrote. “I’m happy to see I’m physically in a good spot in my training.”

The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder is bracing herself for the World Cup season which starts in June.

Fellow NSWIS scholarship holder Sienna Pal [photographed on left hand side of the podium with Sakakibara and third placegetter Carly Kane of the USA] continues to make her mark after finishing second.

The 19-year-old from the NSW Central Coast has made no secret of her desire to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS