Kieran Reilly Leads BMX Final Qualifiers

Kieran Reilly of Great Britain secured the top spot for the men’s BMX freestyle final while Charlotte Worthington missed the chance to defend her women’s title after failing to advance in Paris. Reilly, competing in his first Olympics, scored 91.68 on his opening run and 90.75 on his second, averaging 91.21 to lead the qualifiers.

Kieran Reilly impressive performance on a scorching day in the French capital has positioned him strongly for the final, where he will perform last. This placement suggests he may be holding back a standout routine. In contrast, Worthington, who won the inaugural BMX freestyle gold at Tokyo 2020, struggled to make an impact.

She scored 79.20 and 78.82 in her two runs, averaging 79.01 to finish 11th and missing out on the top nine spots needed to advance. Reflecting on her performance, Worthington said, “It was super tough. I was trying to ride with my current strengths, but it was a bit out of my reach.”

Worthington, who gained fame for landing a 360 backflip in Tokyo and has since faced mental health challenges, had hoped to repeat her Olympic success. Despite producing smooth runs in front of a packed crowd, she was unable to replicate her past brilliance.

“My main goal was to be a two-time Olympian and, despite the journey, to stand up there and finish my run,” she said. “It’s not what you want, but I know I’ve achieved my goal.”