BMX freestyle rider Natalya Diehm contributed to Australia’s medal haul at the Paris Olympics with bronze.
The 26-year-old Australian was an early leader after posting a score of 88.80 on her first run, before China’s Yawen Deng took over the lead with a score of 92.50.
Diehm narrowly missed improving her score in the second run with a score of 87.70.
Deng won gold after narrowly improving her first score, while Perris Benegas of the US won silver with a score of 90.70 on her second run.
Diehm was delighted with her performance.
Australian BMX freestyle rider Natalya Diehm won a bronze medal in Paris on Wednesday
Natalya Diehm could not improve her first score on her second score
“I’ve been dreaming about this for so long,” she told Channel Nine afterwards.
I don’t know what to say.
“This is my first medal ever in a competition. And what better way to do that than at the Olympics?”
Diehm, who has undergone five knee surgeries, said it has been a long time coming for her to become a top scorer again.
“I had that somersault in my possession at the last Olympics and it wasn’t until three years later that I was able to show it again. I had worked really hard for it and as soon as I took off, I knew that this was the best somersault I had ever done. I did it perfectly and I thought: I have to push myself to make it,” she said.
Diehm reached the medal round on Wednesday after qualifying eighth in the heats with an average of 83.89 for her two runs.
His Australian colleague Logan Martin hopes to defend his Olympic title in BMX freestyle later on Wednesday.
After Diehm’s medal, Australia was in fifth place with six gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
Natalya Diehm celebrates her victory on the podium