Great Britain’s Kieran Reilly has clinched the silver medal in BMX freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivering a stellar performance in a highly competitive final.
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The 23-year-old Reilly scored 93.70 in his opening run, securing him second place and ensuring a minimum of a bronze medal.
In his second run, he improved to 93.91, maintaining his silver position but falling short of Argentina’s Jose Torres Gil, who won gold with a score of 94.82.
“This was the highest level of competition I have ever seen in BMX,” Reilly said. “It was the best run I have put down, and I am so proud of myself – it’s something special.”
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Reilly, who topped the qualifiers on Tuesday at Place de la Concorde, was the final rider in the nine-strong field to perform. After completing his complex and intense routine, he sank to his knees and dropped his bike, overwhelmed by emotion as he awaited his score.
The scene was poignant, with tears shed by Reilly and his support team, including Tokyo 2020 women’s BMX freestyle champion Charlotte Worthington.
“Waiting to go on, it’s easy to see what people are doing and adjust, but I had prepared the best I could and was confident in my performance,” Reilly added.
“I knew I was guaranteed a medal, but that didn’t change my mindset—I was going for gold. In those conditions, I gave everything I had. I’m proud of my performance and excited to build on it.”
Reilly’s silver adds to Britain’s BMX freestyle success and highlights his remarkable achievement on the Olympic stage.
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