(Montigny-Le-Bretonneux) Alberta’s Molly Simpson finished fifth in the women’s BMX final at the Paris Olympics on Friday.
Simpson raced down the BMX Stadium track in 35.833 seconds, crossing the finish line just under eight-tenths off the podium.
Simpson had qualified for the semifinals of the event after posting the fourth-best points total in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she advanced to the final thanks to her seventh-place finish in total points.
Australia’s Saya Sakakibara took the gold medal with a time of 34.231 seconds.
Sakakibara edged American Alise Willoughby into the first turn and was never tested again, riding jumps and bumps to the gold medal.
Dutchwoman Manon Veenstra won the silver medal in 34.954 seconds and Swiss Zoe Claessens (35.060) took bronze.
Three-time world champion Willoughby was pushed back after the first corner and finished sixth.
Britain’s Bethany Shriever, the reigning Olympic champion, had to settle for eighth place.