Australian Story on ABC and ABC iview profiles Saya Sakakibara – BMX rider Saya Sakakibara is at the top of her game. She’s won three successive World Cup series and last year took home Olympic gold.
But despite her huge success, Saya lives with constant fear.
“I’ve never been a fearless girl. I’ve always taken calculated risks,”
– she tells Australian Story.
“I really had to work through every race weekend, have a mental breakdown, pick myself back up again and race the next day.”
As a child, Saya followed her older brother Kai into BMX racing. As young adults, the talented duo began to excel on the world stage.
“We had these two amazing siblings which sounds like something out of a Disney movie…kicking ass around the world, doing amazing things together”
– says talent manager, Ryan Chipperfield.
When it was announced that the 2020 Olympics would be held in Tokyo, where they lived as young children, Saya and Kai dreamed big.
Then tragedy struck. In a qualifying round for the Games, Kai crashed badly and was left with permanent injuries.
“She’s gone through her whole life just following his footsteps,”
– says coach, Luke Madill.
“Now she had to train on her own, go to events on her own.”
Saya hoped to bring home gold from Tokyo, but things didn’t go to plan.
Then, after multiple crashes and concussions, Saya developed a fear of racing so crippling she almost walked away from the sport that had defined her. But in the end, she couldn’t quit.
“You’re not supposed to just throw in the towel,”
– Saya says.
“It’s supposed to be hard and it’s supposed to push you.”
In a gripping, adrenaline-fuelled episode, Saya reveals the highs and lows on the road to the Paris Olympics and the inspiration that helped her achieve her dream.
“I don’t think she’s ever going to overcome the fear side of things, and I don’t think anyone in our sport ever will,”
– says Luke.
“I think she’s just going to get more comfortable understand it.”
Australian Story on ABC and ABC iview – Monday 20 October 2025 at 8:00pm
Media Release – ABC
TV Central ABC content HERE
Australian Story on ABC and ABC iview profiles Saya Sakakibara
