Team Great Britain’s Kye Whyte is on the mend following a crash that sent the Olympian to the hospital.
During his heat of the BMX semifinal at the Paris 2024 Olympics Aug. 2, Whyte appeared to come into contact with French athlete Sylvain André before falling off his bike, according to The Athletic.
Following the crash, paramedics rushed to the site and were seen placing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose before he was stretchered off to be attended to.
A GB cycling spokesperson confirmed that Whyte was “assessed immediately by the on-site medical team.”
And although the team’s doctor, Nigel Jones, provided positive news that there were no significant injuries to report, Whyte was taken to the hospital for further tests.
“We wish Kye a speedy recovery,” the statement concluded, “and look forward to seeing him on his bike very soon.”
Whyte, who made history at the Tokyo 2020 Games when he won silver—Great Britain’s first-ever medal in BMX racing—had been dealing with a back injury that, according to BBC Sport, was irritated during last night’s quarterfinal races.
Although Whyte will not compete in the BMX final as a result of his crash, returning from an injury is nothing new for the 24-year-old.
At 13, he had a fall that resulted in Whyte being placed in an induced coma. “I had a bleed on the brain,” Whyte told British GQ in February 2023. “Broken jaw. Left side of my cheek was missing.”
But his perseverance in the sport started even younger.
According to Whyte, his older brothers Daniel and Tre Whyte inspired him to start BMX racing.
“It was Daniel who got onto the British Cycling squad first, then Tre followed suit a few years later,” Whyte wrote in an essay for British Cycling’s website. “I also got onto the programme a few years after that.”
“As an eight-year-old, seeing BMX racing feature at the Olympic Games for the first time was a huge deal,” he continued. “Going to the Olympics is what every athlete dreams of.”
“Winning a silver medal in Tokyo was wicked,” Whyte wrote. “I love putting on a show, especially when I have friends and family in the crowd supporting me.”
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