China’s Yuan Liying Injured in Major Crash During Keirin at Paris 2024 Olympics
In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Chinese track cyclist Yuan Liying was involved in a severe crash during the women’s keirin event, resulting in her being escorted off the velodrome by medical staff. The incident, which took place on Thursday, dashed Yuan’s hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals, marking a significant setback in her Olympic journey.
The keirin, a high-octane event that features six laps of intense racing, begins with cyclists following a motorized derny bike for the first three laps before they unleash full-speed sprints to the finish line. Known for its close-quarter competition, the keirin often sees thrilling moments and, at times, devastating crashes.
Yuan was up against a formidable field that included Germany’s Lea Friedrich, New Zealand’s world champion Ellesse Andrews, and Belgium’s Nicky Degrendele, all of whom successfully advanced to the semifinals. As Yuan attempted to overtake Dutch cyclist Steffie van der Peet near the final stretch, she misjudged the space between them, resulting in a collision that sent both cyclists tumbling on the first turn. The crash was severe, with fragments of helmets and bikes scattered across the track, leading to Degrendele also being caught in the chaos.
While Van der Peet and Degrendele were able to recover quickly, with Van der Peet sustaining only minor injuries, Yuan remained on the ground, clearly in pain. She was eventually helped off the track by her coaches, limping as she exited the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The race was briefly paused to allow officials to repair the track.
Crashes like this are not uncommon in keirin races, where cyclists can reach speeds of over 70 km/h (43 mph) during the final sprint. Despite the unfortunate accident, the event pressed on, with the anticipation for the semifinals growing even stronger.
