Kenny calls it quits for coach job
SIR JASON KENNY is set to call time on his glittering career after being offered a coaching job by British Cycling. Sportsmail understands Britain’s greatest Olympian is to become the new men’s podium sprint coach and work with Team GB cyclists at Paris 2024 rather than compete there himself. Kenny’s future has been up in the air since he won a record seventh Olympic gold medal at last summer’s Tokyo Games, which led to him receiving a knighthood. In an interview with Sportsmail before Christmas, the 33-year-old revealed he had ticked a box on a British Cycling form outlining his intention to carry on to Paris but said he had still made no firm decision. However, Kenny now appears to have made his mind up after being presented with the opportunity to take his first step into coaching. British Cycling advertised for two new sprint coaches last month and interviews have taken place over the last few weeks.
It is understood riders were told of Kenny’s appointment last week. Australian Kaarle McCulloch, the London 2012 team sprint bronze medallist who retired in November, has been offered the women’s sprint job. They will both report to British Cycling head coach Jon Norfolk. News of Kenny’s imminent move into coaching will bring down the curtain on an Olympic career which broke all records for a British athlete. By winning seven golds, he surpassed six-time champion Sir Chris Hoy as Britain’s most successful Olympian ever. With nine medals overall, he is also Britain’s most decorated athlete, bettering Sir Bradley Wiggins’s haul of eight. Kenny’s last act on the track was his astonishing victory in the keirin final in Tokyo last August. He also won a silver in the team sprint. The Bolton rider’s first Olympic gold medal came in the team sprint at Beijing 2008. He then won two golds at London 2012 before claiming three at Rio 2016. Kenny has a four-year-old son, Albie, with wife Laura, who is expected to compete at Paris 2024. She is Britain’s most successful female Olympian with five golds and one silver and was made a dame in the New Year honours.