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Beth Shriever won gold in BMX racing at the Olympics. She crowdfunded to get there.

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3 years ago

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British BMX rider Bethany Shriever won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games after she was refused funding and resorted to crowdfunding to be able to go to Japan.

The 22-year-old cyclist launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2019 with a goal of £50,000 ($69,719) to cover costs to reach the 2020 Olympics. This followed a decision by UK Sport, the government agency that invests in Olympic and Paralympic athletes, that it would only financially support male BMX riders for Tokyo, after no British women riders qualified for the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Back in 2019, Shriever told the BBC it was “worrying” that she was being denied funding.

“My rivals who are all around the world are doing this full time and are funded, so I’m the only one who’s not really getting much help,” she said. “It is worrying and I don’t want my dream to compete at Tokyo to be taken away just because of money.”

Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte at the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan.

Great Britain’s Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte at the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan.
Credit: Danny Lawson / PA Images via Getty Images

Shriever also worked part-time as a teaching assistant to help pay her way to Tokyo. A GoFundMe page set up by Shriever in Feb. 2019 raised just under £5,000 (just under $7,000).

Later in 2019, according to the BBC, UK Sport removed a clause in British Cycling’s funding award “which stated female riders could not be invested in,” and Shriever was able to be somewhat financially backed by British Cycling. She became the only woman in the UK’s Olympic BMX squad.

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Shriever’s dream thankfully was not taken away. And not only did Shriever get to compete — she won the gold medal for Team GB in the women’s BMX racing final at the Ariake Urban Sports Park at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Her Team GB teammate Kye Whyte also celebrated victory with a silver medal in the men’s race.

Gold medallist Bethany Shriever and silver medalist Kye Whyte of Team GB.

Gold medallist Bethany Shriever and silver medalist Kye Whyte of Team GB.
Credit: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP via Getty Images

“Honestly, I’m in shock. To even be here is an achievement in itself,” Shriever said following her win.

“To make a final is another achievement in itself. To win a medal, let alone a gold medal, I’m over the moon.”

Hear that? A gold medal. Now, how about keeping that funding open this time, UK Sport?

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