Sleepless nights prove no barrier for track star Kenny

Motherhood and medals a good mix for track star

Laura Kenny defied another sleepless night to win her second gold medal at the European Championships in Glasgow with victory in the women’s elimination track cycling race.

Motherhood and medals do not always mix and the quadruple Olympic champion was served a timely reminder of her priorities by baby son Albie at the flat she shares with husband and fellow track star Jason Kenny on Saturday.

“I was up five times last night – and he didn’t actually fall asleep until nine o’clock,” laughed Kenny after seeing off Germany’s Anna Knauer in the final head to head for her 12th career continental gold.

“But you get used to it. I don’t even feel like I’ve had a lack of sleep any more – I just come in and get on with it.”

All evidence suggests the 26-yearold’s new work-life balance is serving her well, having won her first Glasgow gold as part of the GB team pursuit squad, with the prospect of the madison alongside Scot Katie Archibald to come.

Both her dominant performance and her evident enthusiasm for her new role bodes well for the long haul towards Tokyo 2020, and is a position Kenny never thought she would face when she was called up for her first European Championships in Poland in 2010.

A late replacement for the injured Joanna Rowsell-Shand, a then 18-yearold Kenny marked her senior GB debut in Pruszkow with a gold medal as part of the team pursuit squad.

“Poland was the beginning for me,” added Kenny. “If you’d asked me then if I’d be a mum with four Olympic and 12 European gold medals I would have said no, that’s not the way my life is going to pan out.”

Kenny will have her chance to complete a hat-trick of Glasgow gold medals when she teams up with Archibald in the madison when the track programme concludes tomorrow.

“They’re going to go mad for Katie so it will be a great atmosphere,” said Kenny.

Dani Rowe finished 10th in the women’s road race as 2007 world champion Marta Bastianelli won gold.

Netherlands’ three-time European gold medallist Marianne Vos took silver and Germany’s Lisa Brennauer won bronze – less than 24 hours after she won individual pursuit gold on the track.

Ollie Wood also came 10th in the men’s 40km points race.

Picture: Getty Images. Laura Kenny shows off her gold medal after winning the elimination event.