LONDON (AP) — Maris Strombergs of Latvia won his second straight Olympic gold medal in BMX on Friday, taking the lead out of the starting gate and never relinquishing it.

Strombergs won the first Olympic competition, at Beijing in 2008, but has struggled with injuries the past couple years. A particularly hard crash in November 2010 that broke his wrist required two rounds of surgery and kept him out about six months.

Strombergs was chased the entire way Friday by Australian rider Sam Willoughby, the world champion, who held on for the silver medal.

Carlos Mario Oquendo Zabala made it a banner afternoon for Colombia with his bronze. His teammate Mariana Pajon won gold in the women's race.