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“The discovery of the century” is perhaps the most accurate description of Laura Kenny’s career, according to a prominent British coach before her Olympic debut in London in 2012 at the age of 20. Her exceptional talent was clearly evident even then. However, her long-term dedication and determination that have led her to become Britain’s most successful female Olympian with a total of six Olympic medals (five gold and one silver) over the course of 15 years and three Games, were not as easily observable. As the saying goes, her retirement on Monday truly marks the end of a golden era, as she also boasts 23 other major titles under her belt.

Laura Kenny, formerly known as Laura Trott, emerged onto the international cycling scene at the same time as the global governing body, the UCI, began taking steps to achieve gender parity in women’s track cycling and added the omnium event to the track program. Kenny dominated in the omnium in both 2012 and 2016, while also being a key member of the British women’s team pursuit success. She successfully adjusted to changes in formats and times, showcasing her talent by earning a gold medal in the new madison relay event at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, alongside teammate Katie Archibald.

During the years of her peak, from 2011 to 2016, Laura excelled in a particular discipline: the elimination race. This race, also known as “devil take the hindmost” involves eliminating the last rider every other lap and is a staple in local track leagues. Its inclusion in the omnium programme by the UCI was heavily debated. As the group decreases in size, the race requires a combination of precise calculation, impressive skill, and sheer strength to continuously push forward every 30 seconds while avoiding danger and getting eliminated.

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In 2012, during the lead-up to the London event, I wrote about Trott’s ability to find and use openings that may not be noticeable at first. She shared her approach to racing after winning a world title in Melbourne in April: “You just need to be brave, as many girls are too cautious and miss out on opportunities. If there’s a chance, why not take it? I’m not very big, and it’s a risk I have to take. If I don’t, I’ll be eliminated and the race will be over. It’s better to try and make it through a gap.”

Her participation in several events including an elimination round was crucial to securing her London 2012 title, with a thrilling finish on the second-to-last day of competition at “the Pringle.” This set the stage for a thrilling victory in the 500m time trial on Super Tuesday, a chaotic evening where Sir Chris Hoy won his final gold, Victoria Pendleton ended her career with a silver, and Trott claimed the overall omnium victory. Adding to her fame in British sports, Trott’s accomplishment was accompanied by the news of her relationship with fellow multiple gold medalist Jason Kenny, which first surfaced when the couple was spotted at Wimbledon. By 2016, the two had amassed a combined 10 Olympic gold medals.

Kenny portrayed her actions as effortless and made them appear uncomplicated, a trait that many successful athletes possess. However, her journey to the peak was not without obstacles. It was clear that her skills were developed through years of competing on inclined tracks, starting at her hometown velodrome in Welwyn, where she began participating at the young age of eight. She enjoyed winning small amounts of money and due to her petite physique, she received a significant advantage in her ranking.

As a newborn, she overcame a collapsed lung and as a teenage trampolinist, she fainted while in the air. In 2012, during an interview, she revealed that she had just pulled out stitches from her chin using nail scissors after crashing during a road race. Recently, she experienced a miscarriage and had surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. Along with her well-known habit of vomiting after intense training and racing sessions, she also constantly carries a sick bucket in the velodrome. Despite these challenges, her unwavering attitude led her to become a leader within the British cycling team when she was just a teenager.

Coaches observed that in addition to Kenny’s resilience, she also exhibited a strong aversion to settling for a mediocre performance. This refusal to compromise likely played a role in Kenny’s decision to retire. After giving birth to her second child with Jason in July, named Monty, she did not have enough ranking points to easily qualify for the Olympics in Paris this summer. To secure her spot, she needed to perform well at the upcoming World Cup in a few weeks, but her chances were slim according to Great Britain’s performance director, Stephen Park, who made the comment 10 days prior. For once, it seemed unlikely that Kenny would be able to beat the clock.

In addition, Kenny briefly dabbled in road racing and achieved some triumphs. In 2014, she won a British championship. Interestingly, her legacy today is more focused on road racing rather than her success on the track. The factory that produces Olympic medalists continues to thrive in its own well-funded environment, but the discipline of road racing is not as prominent at the local level. Furthermore, this year, 22 British women will participate in the road WorldTour, which is the second highest number after the Netherlands and Italy.

The current generation of riders, led by Pfeiffer Georgi and Josie Nelson, draw inspiration from Kenny and Lizzie Deignan, accomplished and determined athletes from Britain who successfully returned to the world stage after becoming parents. The governing body is working hard to make sure a Women’s Tour of Britain takes place this year, a clear indication of the shift in mindset influenced by Kenny and her fellow riders.

Source: theguardian.com