- Logan Martin has begun his Olympic campaign
- Australian champion was assaulted in Belgium
- He had a strong start in Paris
Logan Martin comfortably topped the BMX freestyle qualifying with the third best score in a welcome return to form for the reigning Olympic champion.
Australia’s only cycling gold medallist at the Tokyo Games averaged 89.39 over his two races on Tuesday at the Paris skate park.
Her compatriot Natalya Diehm is also qualified for Wednesday’s medal round with the eighth best score and is brimming with confidence.
“I’m really happy with the way I’ve raced… this day always, I’m probably more nervous, because you don’t really have that safety race,” Martin said.
‘It definitely helps with confidence.
‘I probably had a rough couple of months at the beginning, but now I’m healthy and ready to go.
“The good thing for me is that tomorrow I will arrive at the Olympics with a gold medal. I am the only one here who has one. It is probably a small advantage.”
It was brutally hot in the open-air stadium, but Martin and Diehm agreed that the conditions were not a problem for them.
Logan Martin is off to a good start in defending his Olympic gold medal
The Australian was only outpaced by two rivals during qualifying in Paris on Tuesday.
‘It’s very hot. I still say the Australians have the advantage here today.
“It is certainly difficult, but we can overcome it.”
Martin, who dominated her Olympic freestyle debut in Tokyo, has had a tougher buildup to Paris.
She failed to reach the final in the second of two qualifying events, but that did not affect her Olympic selection.
A week ago, thieves broke into a van in Brussels where Martin was finalising his preparations for the Games and stole his personal belongings.
While he was grateful his bikes weren’t in the van, Martin said it was a “crazy” start to his Games.
Only Britain’s Kieran Reilly (91.21) and America’s Marcus Christopher (89.48) scored higher than Martin.
Olympic champion’s van was attacked by thieves in Belgium before the start of the Games
French star Anthony Jeanjean, a fit cyclist heading into the Olympics, was fifth best among the nine finalists.
Diehm, who has endured five reconstructions on his right knee, improved in his second run and averaged 83.89.
American Tokyo silver medalist Hannah Roberts topped the rankings with 91.45.
“I’m very happy, very relieved, glad that I was able to achieve two races in a row,” Diehm said.
‘We all had the same idea today to play a little safer today… in the second set (on Wednesday) you go all out and hope to God you can get it right.’
Unlike qualifying, where the average of the two heats decides each rider’s ranking, the final is decided by the best of the two scores.