British ‘golden couple’ in preTokyo Games squad

LONDON: Multiple gold medallists Jason and Laura Kenny were both included in the Britain cycling squad announced for the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics, even though it is not yet certain if either of the husband and wife team will compete at the 2020 Games.

The pair have won 10 Olympic titles between them but Laura (nee Trott), who celebrated her 25th birthday on Monday, is expecting the couple’s first child.

She fuelled speculation about the cycling future of her 29-yearold husband, a six-time Olympic champion, when she gave an interview to the BBC earlier this month in which she said he was “giving himself a bit of time” to decide on his future.

But the squad has been reduced in number from 110 riders to 87, with national funding agency UK Sport cutting British Cycling’s grant from £30mil (RM168mil) to £26mil (RM146mil) in comparison to the four-year cycle leading up to the Rio Games.

British Cycling have been under intense scrutiny since rider Jess Varnish made allegations of sexism and bullying against technical director Shane Sutton, saying she had been unfairly excluded from Rio.

That prompted experienced Australian coach Sutton to resign amid an independent review, a leaked draft of which slammed a “culture of fear and bullying” within British Cycling.

However, some leading figures within British cycling have insisted that the set-up had a harsh focus on success but was not prejudiced, with record- breaking Olympic Chris Hoy saying he felt the row had been “sensationalised” by the media. — AFP