After being denied funding, Bethany Shriever, a British BMX rider, won a gold medal at Tokyo Olympic Games. She then used crowdfunding to get to Japan.In 2019, the 22-year old cyclist started a crowdfunding campaign with a goal to raise 50,000 dollars ($69,719) to pay for expenses to attend the 2020 Olympics. After no British women were able to qualify for Rio Olympics 2016, UK Sport, the government agency which invests in Paralympic and Olympic athletes, decided that it would only support male BMX riders in Tokyo.Shriever stated to the BBC that it was "worrying", that she was not being granted funding in 2019.She said that her rivals around the globe are working full-time and are paid, so she is the only one not getting much assistance. It is worrying. I don't want my dream of competing at Tokyo to be ruined by money.Great Britain's Bethany Shriever, Kye Whyte and the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan at the Cycling BMX Racing. Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty ImagesShriever worked part-time as an assistant teacher to pay her way to Tokyo. Shriever set up a GoFundMe page in February 2019 to raise just under 5,000 dollars (just below $7,000).According to the BBC, UK Sport lifted a clause from British Cycling's funding agreement "which prohibited female riders from being invested in." Shriever was then able to be financially supported by British Cycling. She was the only woman to be included in the UK's Olympic-level BMX team.Shriever's dream was not thwarted. Shriever was able to compete and won Team GB's gold medal in the women’s BMX racing finale at the Ariake Urban Sports Park, Tokyo Olympics.Kye Whyte, her Team GB teammate, also celebrated victory with a Silver Medal in the Men's Race.Bethany Shriever, gold medallist, and Kye Whyte, silver medalist of Team GB are both gold medalists. Credit: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP via Getty Images"Honestly, it's a shock. Shriever stated that even being here was an accomplishment."To reach the final is an achievement in and of itself. "To win a medal, let's not forget a gold, is an amazing achievement.Hear that? A gold medal. How about keeping the funding open, UK Sport?
