Author – Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller is an award-winning Journalist, Broadcaster and Photographer, and OMP’s Head of Content.
Overcoming fear to perform at you best in any line of work is tough.
When it comes to Saya Sakakibara’s Gold in the Women’s BMX Racing in Paris, her journey to overcome fear has been unlike any other.
Her brother Kai – also a promising BMX Racer – nearly died after a crash during a race in 2020.
Then in her Olympic debut in Tokyo, Sakakibara crashed in a semi-final, leaving the track on a stretcher.
It started a run of concussions for the Australian and a fear of further setbacks.
When we experience fear, the amygdala activates within our brain and fight, flight or freeze kicks in.
This is a bi-product of our evolution as a species – the primal need to survive when faced with threats that would kill us. Survival of the fittest.
Sakakibara almost took flight.
Following another concussion in 2022, she almost quit the sport.
Instead, she chose to fight.
“Physically I was there, I was fast enough, I was doing quite well, so all I needed to do was focus on my mental side,” Sakakibara told CNN.
“I gave it another go and that’s the push that I needed.”
The fear of injury and failing hasn’t left Sakakibara, but it took a lot of work to push past the fear and compete in one of the world’s most dangerous sports.
“I did a lot of research, reading books, listening to podcasts, talking to psychologists to find something that worked for me,” she said in an interview with Sports Hounds before the Olympics.
“When I conquer my fear, it’s an amazing feeling. And I think that’s what drives me. And also, I hate the feeling of backing down from a challenge that I know I am capable of. So it’s a push and pull from both ends.”
“I believe the biggest battle is the one inside my mind – with the Saya who wants to hold me back vs the Saya who wants to go get it.”
The Saya in Paris, wanted to go get it.
And she did.
The 24-year-old crossing the line well clear of her competitors.
She let out a primal scream as she crossed the finish line.
“I just visioned this moment, visualized being on top of the podium, hearing the anthem and having the gold medal around my neck,” she said through tears on Australia’s Channel 9 after her win.
“Every setback I had, the moment since I’m going to give this another crack, I had that in mind.
“I didn’t want to leave here without giving it my everything. I didn’t want to leave here without making myself proud and making these setbacks worthwhile.”
Sakakibara chose fight over flight. Embraced the fear and won gold.
