**Saya Sakakibara Overcomes Fear to Compete in BMX** Saya Sakakibara, a prominent BMX rider, has faced significant challenges in her career, including fear and injury. Despite these obstacles, she recently secured her third consecutive World Cup series title and is preparing for the Paris Olympics. Growing up, Saya was not naturally fearless. "I've never been a fearless girl," she said in an interview. "I've always taken calculated risks." This cautious approach was put to the test in 2020 when her brother, Kai, suffered a severe crash while training for the Olympics. Saya watched in horror as he fell, realizing the gravity of the situation when she arrived at the hospital to find him in critical condition. Kai's recovery from a traumatic brain injury was long and arduous, lasting several months. During this time, Saya pushed through her own fears and trained hard, hoping to achieve their shared Olympic dream. However, her aspirations were dashed when she crashed during the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics, suffering a concussion that ended her competition. The aftermath of the crash left Saya grappling with fear and uncertainty. "The thought of racing again was terrifying," she admitted. After suffering a third concussion in early 2022, she announced her retirement from the sport, feeling a sense of relief. Yet, that relief was short-lived. "Something inside me knew that it wasn't right to give up now," she reflected. Saya and Kai's journey in BMX began when they were children, inspired by the sport's debut in the Olympics in 2008. They quickly became immersed in BMX culture, training every weekend and rising through the ranks. By 2017, both siblings held national championships, with Saya excelling in the junior elite category. As they prepared for the 2020 Olympics, the pressure mounted. Kai's crash changed everything, forcing Saya to confront her fears head-on. She took ownership of her training and pushed herself to improve, even as the pandemic delayed the Olympics. Despite her efforts, the Tokyo Games ended in disappointment. After her crash, Saya faced ongoing symptoms of concussion syndrome, which compounded her fears. "I have a living, breathing example of what could happen when you have a big head injury," she said, referring to Kai's accident. In 2022, Saya sought help for her injuries, attending a concussion center in Switzerland. There, specialists identified issues with her eye movement and vertigo, which were affecting her recovery. With treatment, she returned to Australia, but the fear of racing lingered. A breakthrough came when her psychologist encouraged her to confront her feelings about the Tokyo crash. Watching footage of her performance, Saya realized she had not been consistent enough to succeed. This moment of clarity helped her shift her mindset from fear to a more positive outlook on racing. "It took a lot of effort to change that belief to something new, like racing equals fun," she said. Inspired by Kai's determination during his rehabilitation, Saya found the strength to return to BMX. As she prepares for the upcoming competitions, Saya is focused on managing her fears and embracing the sport she loves. Her journey reflects resilience and the power of confronting one's challenges head-on, as she aims to make her mark in BMX once again.