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Just Go: Turning fear into a superpower
Not yet published
Expected 15 Dec 26Saya Sakakibara triumphed over fear, self-doubt, and family tragedy to become an Olympic champion. Her journey will inspire you to face your fears and unlock your greatest potential.
A devastating accident left Saya terrified of the sport that had made her famous. After witnessing her brother Kai suffer a traumatic brain injury in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, Saya was shaken to her core. The sport she once loved now felt too dangerous to continue. With six concussions and the haunting memories of crashes, Saya briefly decided to walk away from BMX.
But quitting wasn’t so simple. Supported by her family – Kai, who now dreams of Paralympic glory, and her parents who fear for their children’s safety – Saya set out on a journey to rediscover her passion for BMX and face her deepest fears.
This is a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the determination to keep going when the road ahead feels uncertain. Saya’s journey is a powerful reminder that overcoming fear and embracing the challenges along the way can lead to the greatest triumphs.
A devastating accident left Saya terrified of the sport that had made her famous. After witnessing her brother Kai suffer a traumatic brain injury in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, Saya was shaken to her core. The sport she once loved now felt too dangerous to continue. With six concussions and the haunting memories of crashes, Saya briefly decided to walk away from BMX.
But quitting wasn’t so simple. Supported by her family – Kai, who now dreams of Paralympic glory, and her parents who fear for their children’s safety – Saya set out on a journey to rediscover her passion for BMX and face her deepest fears.
This is a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the determination to keep going when the road ahead feels uncertain. Saya’s journey is a powerful reminder that overcoming fear and embracing the challenges along the way can lead to the greatest triumphs.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication December 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 8, 2026
Just go (read it hahaha) I’m so not the target market for this memoir but I couldn’t have gotten more out of it. What a inspiration. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought to read about a BMX rider’s quest for Olympic gold, what a super power.
December 26, 2025
Was given this as a present, read it within 24 hours. Very inspiring, emotional and empowering!
July 27, 2026
Saya Sakakibara's Just Go is, on the surface, a book about BMX. In reality, it's a book about fear.
After her brother Kai's horrific racing accident and her own serious crashes and history of concussions, Saya's biggest opponent was no longer the riders beside her on the track, it was her own mind. Much of the book follows her relentless search for the answer that would finally make the fear disappear. She analyses it from every angle, convinced there's a silver bullet if only she can find it. When she begins to use fear as a superpower, she then worries what will happen if the fear disappears. Later, she rediscovers the joy of racing, only to fear losing that too. It's a deeply human cycle that many readers will recognise.
Reading it as a psychologist, I found myself thinking how much an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) approach could have helped. So much of Saya's struggle came from trying to think her way out of fear, to solve it cognitively. It wasn't until she stopped trying to eliminate fear and instead learned, through experience, to make room for it that things began to shift. She discovered that courage isn't the absence of fear; it's learning to move forward with it.
But perhaps that's the point. These aren't lessons that can simply be taught, they often have to be lived. Saya's journey is one of extraordinary courage, persistence and self-discovery. She doesn't present herself as someone who had all the answers; she lets readers witness the messy, frustrating process of finding them.
Whether you're interested in BMX or not almost doesn't matter. Just Go is ultimately about what it means to keep showing up when fear tells you not to. I'd particularly recommend it to young people struggling with anxiety or self-doubt, as well as anyone trying to understand how courage is built. It's an honest, inspiring read that reminds us that sometimes the goal isn't to get rid of fear, it's to learn how to carry it.
Oh, and I learnt alot about BMX too.
Thanks to Libraries ACT for lending me a copy of the audiobook, narrated by Saya herself.
After her brother Kai's horrific racing accident and her own serious crashes and history of concussions, Saya's biggest opponent was no longer the riders beside her on the track, it was her own mind. Much of the book follows her relentless search for the answer that would finally make the fear disappear. She analyses it from every angle, convinced there's a silver bullet if only she can find it. When she begins to use fear as a superpower, she then worries what will happen if the fear disappears. Later, she rediscovers the joy of racing, only to fear losing that too. It's a deeply human cycle that many readers will recognise.
Reading it as a psychologist, I found myself thinking how much an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) approach could have helped. So much of Saya's struggle came from trying to think her way out of fear, to solve it cognitively. It wasn't until she stopped trying to eliminate fear and instead learned, through experience, to make room for it that things began to shift. She discovered that courage isn't the absence of fear; it's learning to move forward with it.
But perhaps that's the point. These aren't lessons that can simply be taught, they often have to be lived. Saya's journey is one of extraordinary courage, persistence and self-discovery. She doesn't present herself as someone who had all the answers; she lets readers witness the messy, frustrating process of finding them.
Whether you're interested in BMX or not almost doesn't matter. Just Go is ultimately about what it means to keep showing up when fear tells you not to. I'd particularly recommend it to young people struggling with anxiety or self-doubt, as well as anyone trying to understand how courage is built. It's an honest, inspiring read that reminds us that sometimes the goal isn't to get rid of fear, it's to learn how to carry it.
Oh, and I learnt alot about BMX too.
Thanks to Libraries ACT for lending me a copy of the audiobook, narrated by Saya herself.
October 29, 2025
This is the book BMX has been waiting for!
I listening to this in one day! Saya is such an inspiration for all athletes who have struggled with their own mind. As a mom of a girl who does BMX I found myself rewinding parts of the narration to show to my girls for inspiration.
My youngest really enjoyed the parts about beating the boys in Saya’s chapter on her early years in BMX.
I fully intend to figure out how to get a physical copy of this book to the US (why does it have to be only available in print format in Australia??) as soon as I can.
I want to be able to highlight and re read parts to help my girls through the ups and downs of this sport.
Overall even if you’ve never stepped foot on a BMX track, Saya is an excellent source of encouragement for athletes struggling with the mental game.
I listening to this in one day! Saya is such an inspiration for all athletes who have struggled with their own mind. As a mom of a girl who does BMX I found myself rewinding parts of the narration to show to my girls for inspiration.
My youngest really enjoyed the parts about beating the boys in Saya’s chapter on her early years in BMX.
I fully intend to figure out how to get a physical copy of this book to the US (why does it have to be only available in print format in Australia??) as soon as I can.
I want to be able to highlight and re read parts to help my girls through the ups and downs of this sport.
Overall even if you’ve never stepped foot on a BMX track, Saya is an excellent source of encouragement for athletes struggling with the mental game.
May 3, 2026
Despite not being an elite athlete, by any means, i enjoyed the frustrating tug and pull of Saya's desire to overcome and conquer her valid fears relating to BMX riding. My heart broke for Kai and at times I felt frustrated by Saya's inner dialogue, but it was great to read her growth and see her process the frustration she had explained. Turning fear into a superpower, inspiring!
December 30, 2025
Was given this and read it every chance I could, it wasn't something I would normally have picked but thoroughly enjoyed it. no knowledge of BMX required, just a fascinating insight into overcoming fear and setbacks.
May 26, 2026
what an amazing champion
A gripping read of success, and adversity and overcoming numerous challenges to win gold at the olympics. All we see is the final and podium, and none of the grit, determination and effort required to get there
A gripping read of success, and adversity and overcoming numerous challenges to win gold at the olympics. All we see is the final and podium, and none of the grit, determination and effort required to get there
January 21, 2026
Saya is an incredible athlete and shares so honestly about how she hard she trains both physically and mentally for her sport. A great BMX read.
January 19, 2026
Saya is so open in sharing her battles and shares the tools she used to overcome the challenges and win the ultimate prize. She is a remarkable young woman who will continue to inspire so many!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews