Natalya Diehm Wins Bronze in BMX Freestyle

Natalya Diehm has made history as the first Australian woman to win a medal in Olympic BMX freestyle, securing bronze at the Paris 2024 Games. The 26-year-old from Queensland achieved a strong score of 88.80 in her first run, which placed her in contention as other competitors struggled. Despite not improving her score in her second run, she celebrated as leading rivals faltered, including her friend Hannah Roberts, who crashed during her attempt. Diehm, who had previously faced significant challenges including injury and funding issues, expressed her hopes that her achievement would inspire growth in BMX for future female athletes in Australia. As a result of her performance, Australia continues to build its medal tally at the Olympics, currently holding six golds, four silvers, and two bronzes.