Scottish siblings celebrate with ‘biggest Friday night’ after both win cycling medals
Archibalds take gold and silver in individual pursuit
By Katie Archibald was left with family bragging rights as she promised to have “the biggest Friday night” ever with brother John after the siblings both claimed medals yesterday at the Commonwealth Games.
The pair were celebrating last night after winning gold and silver cycling medals respectively on the Gold Coast.
They became the first brother and sister to win medals at the same Commonwealth Games for Scotland.
“The Archibalds aren’t known for parties, but this is going to be the biggest Friday night we’ve had in a while,” Katie said after taking her first Commonwealth title with a gold medal in the women’s individual pursuit.
She also broke the Games record in a blistering qualifying session before the final.
John also created a new Games record in qualifying for the men’s event – only to see England’s Charlie Tanfield go even faster and then pip him to gold in the final. But silver is still a huge achievement for the 26-year-old, who only converted to the track from the road last summer.
Katie’s only previous Commonwealth Games medal was the bronze she won in the points race in Glasgow four years ago.
The 24-year-old said before racing started gold was the only colour she wanted.
She soon delivered, covering the 3,000m distance in 3:26:088 to beat Australian Rachel Wiasak.
She set the new Games record of 3:24:119 in a qualifying session that saw three riders go under the previous record, set by England’s Joanna Rowsell Shand in Glasgow.
“It means a lot, especially in the individual pursuit because it’s not an Olympic event,” Katie said of her first Commonwealth title.
“2014 always stands out as a big year for Joanna Rowsell to kind of echo because she had the title and the Games record. You look at the success she carried from that point in her career. I’d be very proud.”
Katie’s performance helped
“The Archibalds aren’t known for parties, but this is going to be the biggest Friday night we’ve had in a while”