Paris Olympics: Incredible twist after ‘moment of the Games’ as inspirational brother of Australian BMX gold medalist Saya Sakakibara makes stunning announcement

When Australian BMX rider Saya Sakakibara won gold in Paris, she wore her brother’s number on her bike and over her heart. Now he’s planning to create his own redemption story after a near-death experience.

The fact that Saya ever got back on a BMX is a testament to her strength and dedication to her brother Kai.

In 2020, Kai’s world came crashing down when he crashed in the opening heat of a BMX World Cup event in Canberra.

He is the eldest of two brothers and, together with his sister, wanted to win a medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but the run-up to this almost ended in tragedy.

He suffered head injuries and was airlifted to hospital, where surgeons operated to relieve pressure on his brain. Kai was then placed in a medically induced coma for two months.

Doctors had serious doubts about his survival.

The injury left him unable to speak or move the right side of his body, forcing him to relearn essential life skills and prematurely retire from the sport.

He survived, but the family was startled by lightning that struck twice.

Saya’s inspiring gold medal at the Paris Olympics was dedicated to her brother Kai

There were emotional scenes as the Sakakibara siblings hugged each other after the race

Kai and Saya Sakakibara as children with Dutch motocross legend Robert de Wilde

Saya made it to the Tokyo Olympics, but suffered a severe concussion after a collision with another runner. After the shocking scenes, she was carried away on a stretcher.

It left her terrified to her core and unsure if she would ever compete again. On Saturday, she overcame her fear and, with her brother in the stands and perched on her shoulders, won a gold medal, soaked in emotion.

She found her brother in the audience and gave him a huge hug, tears streaming down her cheeks in heartbreaking scenes at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines race track.

Kai spoke with great enthusiasm about his sister’s courage.

“I felt like I was getting the medal myself. She just did it perfectly and I felt like I was part of her,” he said.

‘I would like to thank her for that.’

And the tears flowed as Saya told how her brother had inspired her at every point of her Olympic journey.

“None of this would have happened without Kai, without him pushing me to be the best I can be,” she said.

“Without him introducing me to the sport, without him pushing me, and just everything. I owe him so much. I feel like I owe him so much.”

Kai suffered severe brain trauma and had to relearn simple tasks such as talking and walking

Kai was left on track in Canberra in 2020 after crashing in the run-up to Tokyo

In shocking scenes, Kaya was carried off the track on a stretcher just months after her brother’s crash

Kai has a long journey ahead of him.

“I was in a coma for two months and had cranial surgery to relieve the pressure on my brain,” he told Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia.

After another eight months in the brain injury unit at Liverpool Hospital, I moved to a TLU (Transitional Living Unit), where I stayed for the next six months.

‘I had to relearn everything: walking, talking, eating, learning how to cross the road, making shopping lists and how to go shopping.

“Literally everything. Recovery is difficult and would not have been possible without the help of doctors, nurses, therapists and family.”

But his Olympic ambition still burns and his rehabilitation has led him to a new sporting love: rowing, a passion he hopes will take him all the way to the Paralympics.

“I wanted to get back into high-level sport and I tried a number of things, including spending some time on the velodrome to get back into cycling,” he said.

Saya and Kai, depicted as teenagers, have always been close and share a common love for BMX

Rowing is an important part of Kai’s rehabilitation and he aims to represent Australia at the Paralympic Games in his new chosen sport

“Cycling turned out to be scary. I looked for something else and went to a Paralympic sports day,” Kai continued.

‘This is where I discovered rowing and as soon as I stepped on the rowing machine I knew this was the next sport for me.

‘I’m now rowing five days a week and have made good progress. It’s a challenge to row with others because we all have to row in sync.

‘The long-term goal is the Paralympics, I’ll get there, but it’s going to take a while. Anyway, I’m using the same approach as with my rehabilitation; step by step.’

In the meantime, Saya’s gold medal will be cherished and possessed by everyone in the Sakakibara family.

“We’ve been through so much. And it’s super special that he was here and my parents were here too,” Saya said.

“BMX means a lot, and it means a lot to Kai and I. I still get to wear his number, 77, every time I race, so I know he’s there with me every time and I’m representing him every time I go out on the track.”