- The mother of Natalya Diehm has shared a story about an unexpected meeting in Paris
- She was approached by a group of men close to the Eiffel Tower
- Her wish was for her daughter to earn a medal at the Olympic Games
Natalya Diehm’s mother has disclosed that a chance meeting with tourists beneath the Eiffel Tower might have set the stage for her daughter to secure bronze in Paris.
The Australian athlete delivered an outstanding performance to outshine several renowned competitors, ultimately earning her spot on the Olympic podium as her close friend and Team USA champion faltered in her final attempt.
It was a proud and touching moment for the Diehm family, who had traveled to Paris specifically to witness Natalya’s achievement.
For her mother, Tamara, a serendipitous encounter before the finals manifested her Olympic dream.
She recounted to Nine how she was celebrating her birthday, wearing sparkly attire when approached by a group of men who asked if she was an angel.
‘I said, ‘No, I’m not — it’s my birthday,’ and he asked, ‘What do you wish for?’ I’ve never been asked that before, so I replied, ‘I wish that my daughter would make the podium,’ and she did,’ she told Eddie McGuire.
‘I understood the situation; I knew that Hannah Roberts, one of Nat’s close friends, was the pivotal factor deciding whether Natalya would medal or finish fourth, so it was bittersweet… I was overwhelmed with emotions.’
Natalya Diehm’s mother, Tamara, sharing her chance encounter in Paris
The BMX freestyler’s mother wished for her daughter’s success at the Olympic Games
Diehm finished third, following Chinese champion Yawen Deng (92.60) and American silver medallist Perris Benegas (90.70), but had to anxiously watch as several top competitors failed to surpass her best two runs, which scored 88.80 points.
Qualified in eighth place, she saved her best performance for the finals, marking her presence right away as the second competitor with an impressive opening run that scored over two-and-a-half points above her previous best.
Although her second attempt didn’t outscore her first, achieving 87.70, three of her main rivals stumbled or fell, allowing Diehm to revel in the pinnacle of her injury-laden career.
Just four years prior, she had contemplated leaving the sport due to funding issues and injuries.
