There were surprises abound in BMX Freestyle Park on Day 2 (Friday 21 June) of the Olympic Qualifier Series 2024 Budapest as two champions – OQS Shanghai women’s winner Sun Sibei and reigning men’s Olympic gold medallist Logan Martin – each missed out on a spot in the final of their events.
Both Sun, of the People’s Republic of China, and Australian Martin fell attempting big tricks on their opening runs, with stronger second runs now enough to raise their average scores and help them into the top 12 cutoff for the final.
It places both in a tricky spot with regards to obtaining a Paris 2024 Olympic qualifying quota from the OQS. While Sun was first and Martin second in Shanghai last month, earning 50 and 45 points respectively, their 14th and 17th place finishes here put them at risk of missing out on one of six quota spots available in each gender from OQS.
With both of Sun Sibei’s Chinese teammates Sun Jiaqi and Deng Yawen making the final in Budapest and having finished second and third behind her in Shanghai, it would take something remarkable to happen for one or both of them to not overtake Sun Sibei in the global OQS standings – and only two riders per National Olympic Committee are able to secure quota spots.
Martin, meanwhile, finishes the OQS on 69 points, leaving him with a nervous wait for Saturday’s final to see if he will finish in the top six globally – although the reigning Olympic champion is confident he will be in Paris regardless.
“I’ll see you guys in Paris – we will have a continent spot based on my previous results,” he told the Olympic Information Service. “It’s been a good lead-in, over the last 18 months. This one unfortunately wasn’t, it’s never nice, the one right before the Olympics.
“I’ve had two bad results (in my career) not making it to the finals, and they’ve both been in Budapest. It’s very unfortunate. I’m going to try and change my flight and get out of here early, tomorrow, so I can go home and see my family. There is no point sticking around. I’ll watch the event on my phone.”
