Bump in the road but Kenny’s still smiling
LAURA Kenny is no stranger to the podium at Olympic games but she believes a fifth victory in Tokyo would top the lot.
The 27-year-old track cyclist celebrated the birth of her first child a year after the Rio 2016 games and the initial signs suggested she would ease back into the saddle.
But, within six months of the arrival of her son Albie, Kenny was back among the world’s elite – making her international comeback at the track world championships.
She admits she was a long way from the athlete that won team pursuit and omnium gold in Brazil, and 18 months on has only just started feeling back to her best. While adapting to life as a parent has presented its own challenges she has had to overcome obstacles on the track which she claims would make glory taste even sweeter next summer.
“Success in Tokyo would probably be among my biggest achievements because I’ve never really had to come back from anything before,” said Kenny. “I don’t like to call it a comeback because it’s not as if I’ve been injured or anything – it was a choice to have a child.
“But last year was the toughest I’ve had so far. There were a series of ups and downs because it isn’t as simple as getting on a bike and it being okay again. I came back quickly but not nearly to a level I wanted. I never expected to be there and even at the European Championships last year – my first real target – I felt terrible.
“Even though I won two golds, I wasn’t mentally or physically prepared and I felt like a fish out of water. Then, after slowly getting back into it in the World Cup season, I got ill at the world championships which was difficult to take. But I’ve had a really good summer and have put all that aside now. I’m firmly focused on what I want to achieve in Tokyo.”
Kenny hopes to compete in three races in Japan, bidding to add Madison glory to her team pursuit and omnium tally. And with Albie now a firm member of her fan club, Kenny explains how important her support network has been.
“My life is completely different at this stage than it was before London or Rio. It’s a logistical nightmare, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” added Kenny, whose husband Jason is the other half of British cycling’s most famous couple. “We’re really lucky because both mine and Jason’s parents have retired and moved close to us, to help us with Albie. They have to travel the world too, because if we’re both racing, he needs looking after. That support is essential and is going to be crucial in Tokyo.”
If we’re both racing, he needs looking after. That support is is going to be crucial in Tokyo