LONDON (AP) — Britain's most successful female Olympian, Laura Kenny, announced her retirement from competitive cycling on Monday because she wants to spend more time at home with her family.
Kenny, 31, has won five Olympic gold medals and was expected to compete at the Paris Games in July.
She gave birth to her second child last year and told the BBC on Monday that staying at home was becoming increasingly appealing to her.
“It's been on my mind for a while, but it's a really big sacrifice and a really big decision to make by leaving your kids and your family at home,” Kenny said. “More and more, I was having trouble making it happen. More and more people were asking me what kind of races I was doing, what kind of training camps I was in, but at the end… I didn’t want to go there, so that’s what I ended up doing.”
Her husband Jason Kenny is also a cyclist and Britain's most decorated Olympian.
“I knew the moment I felt that emotion. I said to Jace, 'I don't think I want to ride a bike anymore,' and it made me feel better,” she said.
Laura Kenney won gold medals in team pursuit and omnium at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and in Madison at the 2020 Olympics. She also won a silver medal in team pursuit in 2020 and is a seven-time world champion and 14-time European champion.
Kenny said the “absolute highlight” of his career was the 2012 London Games, when his relationship with Jason Kenney became public.
“I never thought I would go to a home game, let alone win two gold medals,” she said.
“I look back and think, 'Wow, those two weeks really changed my life.'”
British Team Performance Director Stephen Park described Laura Kenny as “one of the greatest sporting talents our country has ever produced”.
“She was a beacon of inspiration to so many people, young and old,” Park said. “I’m sure the entire British cycling community will join me in wishing her all the best in the next chapter of her life.”
___
AP Sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Associated Press
