Saya Sakakibara Wins BMX Gold at Paris Olympics

Alise Willoughby, a BMX racer from St. Cloud, finished sixth in the women's BMX final at the Paris Olympics, falling short of the podium despite her strong performance. Willoughby, a three-time world champion and silver medalist from the 2016 Rio Games, struggled after being shuffled back at the first corner, allowing Australia’s Saya Sakakibara to take the gold. Family and friends supported Willoughby at a local watch party, expressing immense pride in her achievements and her role as a role model for young athletes. Meanwhile, Bethany Shriever, the defending Olympic champion from Britain, finished last after being boxed in at the start of the race. Willoughby's Olympic journey has been marked by ups and downs, including previous crashes at earlier games, but she continues to inspire aspiring riders like 10-year-old Ariana Larson from St. Joseph. The day's events also saw a full sweep by French riders in the men's BMX final, showcasing a strong home advantage at the games.