Connor Fields, injured during Olympics BMX Racing crash, expected to return to US by end of week

TOKYO — American Connor Fields, the BMX racer who suffered a brain hemorrhage when he crashed in competition Friday at the Tokyo Games, is expected to return to his home in Las Vegas by the end of the week, his father told USA TODAY Sports.

“He’s doing pretty good but he’ll be tested when we get back,’’ Mike Fields said Wednesday by text message.

A day after Fields suffered the head injury, doctors said there had been no additional bleeding and no new head injuries were found, according to USA Cycling. Fields, 29, also suffered a broken rib and bruised lung in the crash, according to his father.

Fields, a three-time Olympian who won the gold at the 2016 Rio Games, crashed during a semifinal heat at Ariake Urban Sports Park. He was in second place when his front wheel appeared to catch the back wheel of the leader, France's Romain Mahieu.

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Fields tumbled to the ground and two other riders fell over him. He was taken off the course on a stretcher before being loaded into an ambulance and transported to a hospital.

Carlos Ramirez Yepes of Colombia said he was racing next to Fields at the time of the spill and described it as a “a great, hard slam.’’

“Every time you get on the gate, there’s a risk,’’ he said.

Netherlands’ Niek Kimmann, who won the gold, said it’s sad Fields did not have an opportunity to defend his Olympic gold from the Rio Games.

“I hope he’s OK,’’ Kimmann said. “I think he’s been a great ambassador of the sport.’’

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: BMX racer Connor Fields will return to US from Olympics after injury