... and Laura is honoured to fly the flag for GB
THE community has spoken of its pride after our Tokyo heroes wrote new chapters in their golden Olympic folklore.
The former headteacher of Jason Kenny says he deserves to be knighted after becoming the most decorated British Olympian in history.
Jason, who now has nine Olympic medals, is one half of an Olympic power couple, with his wife Laura Kenny becoming Great Britain’s most successful female athlete of all-time with five gold medals - to earn the honour of the country’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony.
The pair, who married at Hilltop Country House in Prestbury in 2016, are national and local heroes who are strong members of the tight-knight Chelford community.
A dramatic win on Sunday in the keirin gave 33-year-old Jason a seventh Olympic gold medal, moving him one ahead of former British cycling great Sir Chris Hoy.
It capped a dream Games for the area after Macclesfield boxer Kariss Artingstall, 26, claimed a brilliant bronze medal and Elliot Hanson, 27, also did the town proud by competing for Team GB in the men’s Laser Sailing.
Cheshire East Conservative councillor for Chelford, Marc Asquith, says everyone in Chelford is
“He is a fantastic ambassador and role model for sport, for cycling and for our MSJ community, inspiring us all with his passion for cycling, his sheer determination, perseverance, resilience, humility and extremely calm manner - he is truly amazing!
“We think he definitely deserves a knighthood alongside Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins!
“As a school we feel honoured that Jason has praised staff at Mount St Joseph for encouraging his passion for the sport and we look forward to being able to congratulate him on his return.”
Artingstall, 26, from Macclesfield, competed in the Women’s weight Boxing.
After a breakthrough year in 2019, she was out to bring home more hardware at the Tokyo Olympics.
Artingstall won both a European silver medal and a bronze at the World Championships in the space of two months before securing her Team GB place. And she guaranteed herself a medal before her semi-final defeat to Japan’s Sena Irie.
Laser sailor Hanson was hampered by two seasons of injuries, before claiming fifth place at the Laser World Championships in February 2020 to secure the 15th and final sailing spot on Team GB.
CHESHIRE’S very own greatest ever female Olympian was chosen as the flag bearer for Team GB at the Olympic closing ceremony.
Laura Kenny became Great Britain’s most successful female Olympian with five gold medals and one silver after huge success at Tokyo 2020.
Kenny said her selection was an ‘absolute honour’.
The Closing Ceremony took place at the Olympic Stadium to bring the curtain down on a remarkable 17 days of competition which saw Team GB amass 65 medals.
“It’s an absolute honour to be selected as the Team GB flag bearer for the Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony, and it rounds off my Games experience,” Laura said before the ceremony. “The past 18 months have been tough for everyone, and I really hope me and my Team GB teammates have given the nation something to celebrate.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in that I am now Britain’s most successful female athlete, all I know is that I’ve worked so hard to be here and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends and everyone at British Cycling.”