A Team GB star has been rushed to the hospital following a severe crash during the Olympic BMX racing semi-final in Paris. Kye Whyte lost control of his bike after the first jump and veered off course, resulting in a shocking fall on Friday.
Medics rushed to assist Whyte, who was down on the ground, and placed an oxygen mask over his face as part of their emergency response. The 24-year-old athlete was then lifted onto a stretcher and taken away, although he appeared to be awake and responsive during the incident.
Whyte had been dealing with a back injury, which he aggravated during the quarter-finals the previous day. Team GB issued a statement regarding his condition: “Following his crash in tonight’s BMX racing semi-final, Kye Whyte was assessed immediately by the on-site medical team and team doctor, with no significant injuries reported. This was followed by a further review by Great Britain Cycling Team doctor Nigel Jones. Initial reports are positive, but he is being taken to hospital for further assessment. We wish Kye a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him on his bike very soon.”
Prior to the crash, Whyte was considered one of the favorites to reach the finals, having made history by winning a silver medal in BMX racing at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, becoming the first Team GB athlete to medal in the sport.
As a result of the crash, Whyte missed the remaining semi-final heats and did not qualify for the final. Unfortunately, this incident is not new for him; at the age of 13, he suffered a crash that left him in a five-day coma due to a brain bleed and significant facial injuries, causing him to miss an entire year of school and refrain from riding for a year and a half.
Credit: Sport Bible
