Kenny rejects retirement for a crack at Tokyo Games

Six-time Olympic champion Jason Kenny plans to race on to the Tokyo 2020 Games after previously contemplating retirement.

The 29-year-old Bolton rider won three gold medals at Rio 2016 to take his tally to six gold and one silver, level with British record holder and former team-mate Sir Chris Hoy.

Kenny married four-time Olympic champion Laura Trott, in September 2016 and the couple had their first child, son Albert, last month. And, after coming close to quitting racing, Kenny is now ready to commit to his fourth Olympics.

“To be honest, after Rio, I’d pretty much made my decision to walk away from cycling,” said Kenny, who will make his return to racing at the Revolution Series event in Manchester on 6 January.

“But after taking a year out, getting married and having our first child, I felt refreshed. Before I knew it, I was training again.

“I feel like I’m 18 and starting all over again. Competing at Revolution in January will be the first step on the path to Tokyo.”

Kenny’s post-rio break is the first time he has had an extended sabbatical since emerging at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Kenny won his first olympic gold in the teams print aged 20 alongside Hoy in 2008. He added silver in the individual event behind the Scot, who in Beijing became the first Briton in 100 years to win three gold medals at one Games.

Kenny matched that achievement in Rio by winning the team and individual sprints and the keirin.

He also won team sprint and individual sprint gold medals at London 2012.

Kenny added: “Tokyo is a long way off and I’ve never really been motivated by records. I’ve just always tried to be the fastest and best I can be. Having said that, to win more gold medals than any other British Olympian would be an amazing achievement.”

British Cycling performance director Stephen Park said: “Jason’s Olympic career and record speak for themselves, and the fact he is targeting a fourth Games is excellent news.”