OLYMPIC CYCLIST LAURA KENNY TALKS ABOUT JUGGLING MOTHERHOOD AND TRAINING
OLYMPIC CYCLIST LAURA KENNY TELLS OK!’S CLARE FISHER ABOUT FAMILY, THE LIONESSES AND TAKING ON TOKYO 2020
Although she may be tired after a ‘night shift’ with her 23-month-old son Albert, who is ‘not sleeping’, Olympic cyclist Laura Kenny isn’t showing it. Laura, 27, became famous for her sunny demeanour during her incredible achievements at London 2012, and she is just as enthusiastic and down to earth in our interview. ‘Me and Jason are really, really normal, average people,’ she says of her and husband of nearly three years, fellow Olympic cyclist Jason Kenny.
The year after their wedding, the couple welcomed baby Albert, who they call Albie. With such strong sporting genes – Laura and Jason boast ten Olympic gold medals between them – is Albie a future Olympian, too? ‘He can do a forward roll, you just have to ask him and over he goes!’ laughs a besotted Laura, who says she’d already have another baby if the Olympic schedule allowed.
Here, Laura opens up about expanding her family, next year’s Tokyo Olympics and why now is the moment for women in sport…
Were you gutted to have to pull out of the World Championships in March with a virus? It was the first contest I’ve ever had to pull out of. It was such a disappointment. I wanted to show I was in the best form I’ve been in since having Albert. Do you take Albert to competitions? He’s been to every race I’ve been in. I didn’t have Albert for someone else to babysit him so he’s travelled the world.
What a great experience for him… He’ll be nearly three at the Tokyo Olympics so maybe it will form some of his first memories.
Is he showing a sporty side?
Well, he can do a forward roll, you just have to ask him and over he goes! He’s got a little balance bike but he can’t cycle properly yet. He’s a very active, curious child, always outside, rolling around with the dog and coming back in absolutely filthy.
Would you like more children?
I hope so. As athletes, we have to plan a family around the Olympics! In an ideal world, I’d only have a year between children but I couldn’t take another two years out from competition.
Is it a conscious effort to keep Albert out of the spotlight?
I want Albie to make the choice about what he shares online when he’s older. Me and Jason are really, really normal people and we want to make sure Albert is brought up with the same values.
Will you compete at Albert’s school sports days in the future? I’m really not competitive in everyday life. On the track, I care about winning but otherwise I really don’t. I think the other mums would eye me up on the start line and think, I want to beat her, though!
Did you enjoy the women’s football World Cup?
I did and was heartbroken for them not to make the final. But the Lionesses are the heroes of today, the kind of idols our younger generation needs. What they’ve done is phenomenal, regardless of winning or losing. I really hope this is the turning point for women’s sports to be seen on the same level as men’s. There was 15-year-old tennis player Coco Gauff at this year’s Wimbledon and there’s the netball World Championships coming up. Women in sport are having a moment!
Tell us about your involvement with the I Am Team GB Sports Day… Team GB and Toyota have teamed up to put on a sports day on August 24. We’re encouraging everyone to get off the sofa and give sport a go, try something new. That’s how I started cycling; my mum used to cycle to lose weight so I tried it and loved it, that kick started everything.