In a move that has reverberated through the cycling world, Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most celebrated female Olympian, has declared her retirement from competitive cycling. With a glittering career marked by unparalleled success on the track, the 31-year-old’s decision comes amidst speculation about her participation in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Having clinched an astonishing five Olympic gold medals and secured seven World Championship titles, Kenny’s legacy is etched in the annals of sporting history. In an exclusive interview with BBC Breakfast, she revealed the deeply personal journey that led to her momentous decision.
“I always knew deep down I would know when the right time was,” Kenny shared, reflecting on her retirement. “I have had an absolute blast but now is the time for me to hang that bike up.”
Married to Sir Jason Kenny, himself a decorated cyclist, Laura Kenny emphasized the significant sacrifices involved in balancing elite sport with family life. “The sacrifices of leaving the children and your family at home are really quite big,” she explained. “More and more, I was struggling to do that.”
Kenny’s journey as a mother and athlete has been marked by resilience and determination. Following the birth of her first son, Albie, in 2017, she returned to cycling, determined to challenge the notion that motherhood is a barrier to sporting success. However, the road to her second child, Monty, was fraught with challenges, including a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy.
Reflecting on her decision, Kenny expressed a profound shift in priorities. “Going on to win another gold medal, as much as I would love to do that, it wasn’t giving me the energy I wanted anymore,” she confessed. “I wasn’t thinking, ‘I really want to go on and win one’. I was thinking, ‘I really want to stay at home with the children’.”
Kenny’s illustrious career saw her rise to prominence during the London 2012 Olympics, where she clinched gold in the women’s omnium and team pursuit. Subsequent Olympic triumphs in Rio and Tokyo solidified her status as a sporting icon, making her the most successful female cyclist in Games history.
Despite her retirement from competitive cycling, Kenny remains poised for the next chapter of her life. As a Dame and a revered figure within the cycling community, she expressed openness to various possibilities, including mentoring young athletes and contributing to the sport’s development.