UPDATE 7/30/21 9 P.M.: Officials with USA Cycling say Conner Fields has been moved out of the critical care unit at the hospital. This comes after Fields was involved in a crash on the first turn of the Olympic BMX Racing semifinals.
Doctors reported that Field sustained a brain hemorrhage at the venue. After a night in the ICU, doctors say there was no additional bleeding.
No new injuries have been found, and Fields will remain in the hospital until he is cleared.
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TOKYO (AP) — Reigning BMX racing gold medalist Connor Fields of the United States has been carried off on a stretcher after crashing in the third qualifying heat at the Tokyo Olympics.
Fields was fourth after his opening two heats and landed hard off a jump heading into the first turn in the second heat. The 28-year-old from Las Vegas slammed into the turn and lay on the track as medical personnel rushed out to help him.
Fields was attended to for several minutes before being carried away. He qualified for the finals, but will not be able to race.
A tweet from USA Cycling early Friday indicates that Fields is in the hospital under observation.
“We can confirm that he is awake, stable, and awaiting further medical evaluation,” according to the tweet.
“Thinking of you Connor,” it said.
Fields became the first American BMX rider to win gold at the 2016 Rio Games and was a favorite to win it again in Tokyo.
He is a graduate of Green Valley High School and UNLV.