'I've dreamed of this': Aussie Natalya Diehm wins bronze medal after mistake from rival in final run
Updated . First published at
Aussie BMX rider Natalya Diehm has won her first ever Olympics medal after finishing with a bronze at Paris 2024 in the women's BMX freestyle.
In Diehm's first run of the final she finished with a score of 88.80.
She did not improve her marker on run two but it was enough to land a bronze after American Hannah Roberts made a mistake on her final run.
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China's Yawen Deng won gold in the event while American Perris Benegas finished with silver.
Natalya Diehm of Australia celebrates during the BMX Freestyle Women's Park Final. Alex Broadway via Getty Images
Diehm's medal caps an incredible story for the Queenslander after her injury woes continued in the Tokyo Games, busting her knee.
After Tokyo, she spiralled into a deep depression but she stayed motivated during surgery and was rewarded with her bronze medal result.
"I've dreamed of this moment for so long and I felt it all week, I'm like 'I know I'm third, I know I'm on that podium'," she told Nine's coverage.
"But to be sitting right on the edge until the last rider went in, Hannah, she's my best friend, and knowing how good she is, I was just like I don't want to wish bad on anyone but I want this so bad and until I get this medal I don't know what else to say.
"I can't believe this, this is the first medal I've ever gotten in an international competition and what better way to do than at the Paris 2024 Olympics?"
Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport.
Throughout the final, Diehm's best move was a front flip which delivered her the medal, something she said had been "in the bag" since Tokyo.
"I've been working really, really hard and as soon as I took off today I just knew this is the best one I've ever done and I just nailed it and I thought hold on for dear life let's go for the ride," she recalled.
With her mum and aunty in the crowd, Diehm did have another supporter at home, revealing with a laugh that her girlfriend has said she was going to call in sick if she got a medal and "throw a party".
Diehm's rise from injuries to a bronze medal will be considered one of the best achievements of the Olympics for Australia.
The 26-year-old has suffered broken wrists, elbows and ankles along with a dislocated shoulder and ruptured ACLs.
Her right ACL has been ruptured on five occasions. She went into the Tokyo Olympics against the advice of a doctor after injuring her ACL again two weeks out. She finished fifth in the final.
After Tokyo, she had two surgeries on her ACL and two shoulder operations.
With all her adversity considered, Diehm had a strong message for those struggling with their own issues.
"There's always light at the end of the tunnel when you feel like there's not, you've just got to keep pushing," she said.
"I did a video diary again today that I'm going to post that I had full trust and full belief in myself, as long as you have that and you have hope the world's going to keep on spinning, every day's going to keep going, you'll keep on getting better so always have the belief and trust in yourself and you can get anything done.
"Just keep dreaming, dare to dream, they could come true. Work hard, it may take a long time, it may come short but for me I've been riding since I was eight years old and I'm 27 in a couple months. Keep dreaming, you've got it."
