The 2014 UCI BMX World Championships Rotterdam have ended in heartbreak for defending champion Caroline Buchanan on a day that was marred by a series of high profile crashes. Having rode a fantastic Time Trial the day before to grab the silver medal, the defending champ was left battered and bruised after crashing during her last heat earlier in the day, and was 50-50 as to whether or not she would even be able to continue racing having already qualified for the quarter final. Unable to even carry her bike to the starting line she bravely chose to continue and went on to win her quarter final in style before clutching at her wrist.
With a strapped wrist and arm, a shoulder injury and a badly swollen knee, courageous Caroline gallantly attempted to defend her title in the semi-final unfortunately falling just short of qualifying for the final in fifth.
Last year’s runner up and fellow Australian Lauren Reynolds also fell just short of the final finishing sixth in her semi.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.