Australia’s Logan Martin flies to first men’s Olympic BMX freestyle gold

Australian two-time world champion Logan Martin has dominated the men’s BMX freestyle competition to win the gold medal. The 27-year-old from Logan Reserve in Queensland was untouchable, posting the top scores throughout the men’s runs as his sport made a riveting Olympics debut in Tokyo.

His win means Australia are poised to win four Olympic gold medals on one day for the first time. After two golds at the pool earlier on Sunday morning, sailor Matt Wearn will win the fourth gold in the afternoon in the Laser provided he finishes his medal race and is not disqualified.

It is also Australian cycling’s first Olympic gold medal since Anna Meares won the women’s sprint at the London 2012 Games.

Martin was the only competitor to score more than 90 in Saturday’s two seeding runs, confirming he was the man to beat. He then scored 93.30 in Sunday’s first medal run, throwing down the gauntlet again to the rest of the field.

It came down to Japan’s Rim Nakamura, who comes from a strong cycling family and is named after a bike part. With local fans lining a nearby bridge in their thousands to cheer him on, Nakamura made a strong start at Ariake Sports Park but faded late for a score of 85.10.

Martin then started his last run with victory secured, before he pulled up after his foot slipped from the pedal and he saluted the crowd. Daniel Dhers of Venezuela, at 36 the veteran in the men’s competition, won silver with 92.05 on his second run and British rider Declan Brooks scored 90.80 for the bronze.

Earlier on Sunday, Great Britain’s Charlotte Worthington stunned the sport with the first 360-degree backflip in the women’s competition. That propelled her past American three-time world champion Hannah Roberts for the gold medal, while Australian Natalya Diehm finished fifth.