Australian BMX racer Saya Sakakibara and her French boyfriend Romain Mahieu are both serious contenders for gold medals at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Sakakibara, 24, has dominated the global rankings in her sport over the past year, while Mahieu, 29, has finally found his top form after a decade of international competition.
Both riders have overcome significant challenges in their careers. Sakakibara has battled injuries, including a concussion at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and a crash in 2022 that left her with a bruised lung and another concussion. Mahieu, on the other hand, has had to compete against a field of strong French riders who dominate BMX racing globally.
Despite these challenges, both riders are now at the peak of their powers. Sakakibara is the No. 1 ranked female BMX Racing rider in the world, while Mahieu is the reigning world champion and the overall World Cup series title holder.
The couple’s relationship has been a source of strength for both of them. They train together, race together, and share the same goal of winning Olympic gold. “We are both at a really high level together and we have been sharing wins at world cup rounds over the past two years, so hopefully we can make that a medal,” Sakakibara said.
Sakakibara was born in Japan but now represents Australia. She took up BMX at age four, following in the footsteps of her older brother Kai. Mahieu was born in France and has been riding BMX since he was four years old.
The couple has been together since at least 2019, when they both won a race on the Tokyo Olympic circuit and made their relationship public. Since end 2022, Mahieu spends winters in Australia and Sakakibara spends much of her time in Sarrians, southern France.
An Olympic medal for both Sakakibara and Mahieu would be a dream come true. They are both in the form of their lives and have a real chance of making history in Paris.
