Team GB’s BMX stars Beth Shriever & Kye Whyte arrive home to heroes’ welcome at Heathrow after winning gold and silver
TEAM GB’S BMX heroes Beth Shriever and Kye Whyte arrived home to heroes’ welcomes at Heathrow.
The pair won gold and silver medals respectively at the Olympics.
And they flew back from Tokyo to the UK, landing in London on Sunday with their prizes around their necks.
The Olympic stars were greeted by friends and family after collecting their suitcases from Terminal 5.
Shriever’s boyfriend Brynley Savage gave her a big kiss as she posed with the glistening gold.
And Whyte’s dad Nigel was also on hand to embrace his son and see his shining silver for real – days after the 21-year-old broke down in tears watching his family supporting him from home.
The South Londoner secured second place in the men’s race in his first Olympics appearance, coming second to Dutchman Niek Kimmann.
Whyte then turned supporter as he cheered on Shriever.
She beat off legendary Colombian rider Mariana Pajon and was seen tossing her bike to the side as she collapsed on the track with cramp – only for Whyte to hoist the golden girl into his arms in triumph.
The new Olympic champion appeared in shock after her brilliant win, collapsing to her knees as her legs filled with lactic acid.
‘GOLD IS CRAZY’
Shriever told the BBC: “Honestly I’m in shock. Oh my god. To be here is an achievement in itself. To make a final is an achievement in itself.
“To come away with a medal, let alone a gold, is crazy.
“I owe a lot to everyone. This means so much. I am so grateful for the support of people waking up. I am overwhelmed.”
Shriever began BMX aged just nine years old at her local club in Braintree, and in 2017 became junior world champion.
She had worked as a part-time teaching assistant as she trained for the Games after UK Sport stipulated in its post-Olympic funding review that only male riders could be supported heading towards Tokyo 2020.
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And there was more BMX glory for Team GB on Sunday in Toyko.
Charlotte Worthington delivered a stunning final run to claim gold in the women’s freestyle.
She nailed a backflip 360 amid a series of other nerve-shredding tricks which earned her a mammoth score of 97.50.
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