BUNBURY BMX racer Lauren Reynolds’ Olympic campaign came to a disappointing end this morning after she failed to make the finals of the women’s individual cycling events in Rio.
She came into the Olympics as the runner-up Australian Champion and 12th World Champion.
Things looked promising for the 25-year-old after she qualified for the semi-finals early Thursday morning.
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READ NOWHowever, she was inconsistent in the semi-finals. In heat two, she finished sixth, seventh and fourth respectively in the three runs deciding who would make the finals.
The first run was disappointing, as Reynolds failed to get a jump at the start. Fellow Australian Caroline Buchanon finished first.
It was a disastrous second run for Reynolds, who crashed at the first jump. She managed to get back on her bike and crossed the line in seventh place. Buchanon finished fourth.
The third run was more promising for Reynolds as she kept up with the pack. She held and crossed the line in fourth place. It was not so good for Buchanon, who crashed and finished last, just missing out on a spot in the finals.
World champion Mariana Pajon won gold for Colombia in the BMX women’s finals.
Reynolds started BMX riding when she was seven years old, doing stunts such as launching herself off the Bunbury jetty and into the river.
Reynolds described her sport as the ultimate adrenaline rush and was proud to part of the “Olympics’ new favourite sport.”
Caroline Buchanon and Lauren Reynolds with the Australian Olympic BMX team.