Rio 2016: Mariana Pajon retains BMX gold

Omnisports 06:39 - 19 August 2016

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Colombia's Mariana Pajon secured back-to-back Olympic BMX golds with victory on Friday, Connor Fields winning the men's title.

Mariana Pajon successfully defended her BMX gold medal from London 2012 with victory in the women's final in Rio.

The Colombian added a second gold to her long list of achievements that include six world championship titles – the latest coming in May in front of a home crowd in Medellin.

Pajon finished 0.342 seconds clear of the United States' Alise Post as she dominated the race, with Stefany Hernandez of Venezuela taking bronze in a final shorn of five-time world champion Caroline Buchanan after a crash in her semi-final.

In the men's gold medal race 23-year-old Connor Fields surged to victory by over six tenths of a second from Dutch rider Jelle van Gorkom.

American Fields finished seventh in the BMX final four years ago as Maris Strombergs – who failed to make the semi-finals in Rio – took gold, however it was Fields' turn to celebrate in Brazil.

Colombian Carlos Alberto Ramirez Yepes edged out Nicholas Long following a video replay to complete the top three, with 2012 silver medallist Sam Willoughby having to settle for sixth.