Golden haul for cycle duo
AN Olympic duo have added to their haul of gold medals after cycling to success in Rio.
Cyclists Laura Trott and Jason Kenny, who live in Chelford, have triumphed at this year’s Olympic Games, earning three gold medals between them, with both in pole position to earn another as the Express went to press.
Jason, 28, who won three Olympic gold medals at Beijing and London, won golds in the individual and team sprints at Rio.
Last night (Tuesday, August, 16) Jason was due to compete in the final of the ‘keirin’, with the potential to add a third gold to his Rio collection.
Fiance Laura, 24, who went to Rio with two golds from London 2012, became the joint most successful female British Olympian after winning her third gold medal in the team pursuit.
She was just two races away from a fourth after winning two of the four races in the Women’s omnium as the Express went to press.
Speaking before the games, Laura, who is originally from Hertfordshire but moved to Macclesfield with Jason three years ago to be nearer to the velodrome in Manchester, said she had been pounding the Macclesfield hills in preparation for the event.
She said: “We love living in Macclesfield. It’s great to have the town but be so close to the countryside. We’ve been made to feel at home here. We do road rides from our home in Chelford and if we want hill training we only need to head out to the Cat and Fiddle and back down through Macclesfield.”
Macclesfield MP David Rutley said local athletes are a great inspiration to the community.
He said: “It’s great to see Olympians who live and train locally doing so well in Rio.
“Being able to train on Cheshire peaks and plains is a real boost – it’s ideal territory for them – and I congratulate Laura and Jason on their huge successes.”
Deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor David Brown, said: “It has been thrilling watching so many brilliant athletes at the Rio Olympics.
“Clearly the success of gold medalists Laura Trott and Jason Kenny is a particular source of pride. With them both being cyclists as well, it just helps to get other people in Cheshire excited about the sport in general, with the Tour of Britain just around the corner.”