Tokyo 2020: Kye Whyte takes first-ever British medal in BMX

Kye Whyte has won Great Britain’s first-ever Olympic medal in BMX after taking silver in the men’s racing event.

The win was consolidated a few minutes later by the success of his friend Bethany Shriever, who took gold in the women’s event.

He was hampered by poor starts in qualifying, but he demonstrated he had the speed to contend if he was able to get off the line successfully.

Whyte made it into the first corner of the final in second place and held onto the position.

He missed out on the gold by just 0.144 seconds, finishing with a time of 39:167, which ultimately went to the Netherland’s Niek Kimmann.

The two were far ahead of the pack, after a late crash for Frenchman Romain Mahieu split the field. It was Carlos Ramirez Yepes of Colombia who would cross the line in the bronze-medal position.

After he won, Whyte said: “The medal means everything to me. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is hard to get to the Olympics in the first place. To do well and get a medal, it is special.”

He later thanked his family, including his brother Trey, who won a world championship bronze in the sport in 2014 before retiring in 2020.

He said: “I reckon Trey might cry. My dad definitely did cry and my mum cried too. When I get back it will be crazy.”

Former British BMX rider Shanaze Reade, who finished sixth in the London 2012 final, said that Whyte and Shriever had put in the “performances of their lives”.

She said: “It is a credit to them both. To go to your first Olympic Games is nerve-wracking; to go to your first Olympic Games and actually win it and get a silver medal is unbelievable.

“I always say a happy head is fast legs – both of those guys seemed so happy, so relaxed and took it in all stride. Their performances showed that.”