Dame Laura Kenny makes major announcement on cycling career
18.03.2024 - 07:19
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Dame Laura Kenny has announced her cycling retirement.
The 31-year-old is Britain’s most successful female Olympic athlete, having won five Olympic gold medals in her decorated career. She was expected to compete at the Paris Games this summer, but she told the BBC it was time to 'hang up the bike'.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said: "I always knew deep down I would know when was the right time. I have had an absolute blast but now is the time for me to hang that bike up."
READ NEXT: 'I've seen people killed': Tyson and Tommy Fury uncle Peter Fury on betrayal, Dougie Joyce and 'rollercoaster' life
Dame Laura and her husband Sir Jason Kenny are the most successful married couple in Olympic history. The pair have 15 Olympic medals between them - 12 golds and three silvers.
The couple, who live near Knutsford in Cheshire, received a damehood and knighthood respectively in the 2022 News Year's Honours list. Laura and Bolton-born Jason met through their love of cycling and they tied the knot shortly after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2017 they welcomed their son, Albie. Last year, the pair welcomed a second son to their family.
Dame Laura added: "It’s been in my head a little while, the sacrifices of leaving the children and your family at home is really quite big and it really is a big decision to make. More and more, I was struggling to do that.
"More people asking me what races was I doing, what training camps was I going on – I didn’t want to go ultimately and that’s what it came down to. I knew the minute I was getting those feelings.
"Once I said to Jase, ‘I don’t think I want to ride a bike anymore’, I started to feel relief."
In February 2022, Sir Jason announced his retirement from racing to move into coaching.