Tokyo Olympics: Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald take gold in women's cycling madison

It makes Kenny the first British woman to win gold at three consecutive games

Author: Oliver WrightPublished 6th Aug 2021
Last updated 24th Feb 2022

Laura Kenny has snatched her fifth Olympic gold medal alongside Katie Archibald - making her the first woman in British history to win gold at three consecutive games.

It makes Kenny Team GB's most decorated female athlete, with six medals overall.

Meanwhile it is Archibald's second Olympic gold and third medal in total.

They were part of the team which won silver in the pursuit just three days ago.

The 27-year-old, originally from Milngavie, said: "I've been dreaming about this. I've never wanted something so much and I've never been so nervous. But we've been clinical in our approach.

"I'd like to thank our coach Monica (Greenwood). None of this would have happened without Monica. She overhauled our approach to this event.''

Kenny added: "Monica is married to Ben, who is the under-23s coach. We've done this exact plan five times (with the under-23s). I have never felt so confident about a plan in my life. We just raced it again.''

The pair dominated the cycling madison event - which sees two riders from 15 nations cycle 120 laps of the velodrome, equating to 30km.

They looked in control from the off, winning the first three sprints on the track and then further extending their advantage after the Dutch pair of Kirsten Wild and Amy Pieters, reigning world champions, were caught in a crash with a little over 70 laps remaining.

In the second half of the race the duo got themselves in a series of breakaways, hoovering up points in the sprints and gaining a lap with a little over 20 to go to build an all-but-insurmountable lead.

By the end of the race, they had won 10 of the 12 sprints - including the double points for the last lap - to finish with 78 points, more than twice the tally of second-placed Denmark on 35.

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