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Jason Kenny: UK’s Most Successful Olympic Athlete Retired


Jason Kenny, the UK’s most successful track and field athlete of all time, has retired to coach the British Cycling team.

The 33-year-old has won seven gold and two silver medals between 2008 and 2021.

“A big part of me really wants to move on and try to get to Paris and I’m a bit sad that I didn’t make it,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“The opportunity to coach at British Cycling may not be available in three years. I think I’d take it now.”

Kenny, who was knighted on the New Year’s Honor roll, won gold medals in team sprints in Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, individual sprints in 2012 and 2016 and keirin in 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

“That Keirin in Tokyo was very special to me,” he said. “It was a great race. If you could pick one to finish, it always will. That played a small part in that. It would be my last race, to complete it. into something really special on the last day of the Olympics.”

That victory made him the most successful cyclist in Olympic history from any country. He also won silver in the 2008 sprint and last year’s team sprint.

His wife Laura Kenny, 29, who was also honored in the New Year’s Honors, is the most decorated female athlete for Team GB, with five golds and one silver.

Why is he making a decision now?

Jason Kenny
Jason Kenny was 20 years old when he attended his first Olympic Games in 2008

Kenny has previously said that he was “not very optimistic” present at Paris 2024 due to injury.

“It’s a combination of things,” he told the BBC. “The opportunity came to British Cycling to be a coach and that’s what I wanted to do when I stopped and it probably won’t be in three years so I thought for three years, I don’t know me. can do it anyways for another three years, I think I’ll take the chance now.

“I’m really sad. All I ever knew was racing and training. I’m sad on that front but so excited to start this new journey.

“It’s a step into the unknown. I’ve worked with great coaches and I’m trying to unlock my memory of what I remember as a racer and what I like.”

British cycling ‘at a crossroads’

British cycling – one of the country’s best-funded and most successful sports – is also among a number of sporting organizations criticized by a 2017 Review for a culture of pursuit of success, including Olympic medals.

The old racers talked about the “culture of fear”, there is a apology on claims of bullying and doping, and a 39-point action plan was put in place to improve athlete welfare.

And last year, former British Cycling Team and Sky team doctor Richard Freedman guilty by a medical court about ordering a banned substance to help an unnamed driver commit fraud.

When asked about Cycling in the UK now, Kenny replied: “I would say it is at a fork in the road. If we are on the right track we can succeed, a good organization is moving forward. .

“Hopefully a sustainable organization. We’ve had a lot of turmoil over the last few years, restructuring, new employees coming in. It’s important that we look at performance but do it the right way. The next few years will really matter.

“Being an athlete is really hard. There’s a misconception that they are treated like gods and paid millions of dollars. For the most part, being an athlete is really frustrating. We want to. do it as aggressively as possible. They are happy to get through it because everyone has a dream to win. We have to stand behind them, support them as much as we can.

“That’s where British Cycling needs to get high. That’s key – where we position ourselves. It’s important that we produce as many happy champions as possible. Everyone people are here because they love the sport. We want to nurture that. We don’t want pedestrians to walk away hating cycling has happened in the past.”

Kenny said he aims to be an “positive” coach, adding: “When I look back at the coaches who have reached my full potential, they’ve been positive. It’s contagious when someone positive. You can’t call someone the best in the world or get the best out of themselves.”

How does he reflect on his career?

Jason Kenny
Jason Kenny has won at least one Olympic gold medal in every Olympics he has attended

“I tried my best and loved the process of getting to the point where you can have that special moment every four years,” says Kenny. “It has always been my passion.

“Even now, I’m going straight into this next role and trying to support the players, most of whom are in the early stages of their journey. Hopefully I can help bring that back to life. they experience as good as I have had.”

Kenny surpassed his friend Chris Hoy, British Olympic record holder, by a total of seven medals – and six golds – last year.

He said: “The last one is special because I know it’s the last one now. But the people on the team are always the happiest because you get to enjoy it with your teammates.”

Jason Kenny is the most successful British Olympic athlete, while Laura Kenny is the most successful British female athlete
Jason Kenny is the most successful British Olympic athlete, while Laura Kenny is the most successful British female athlete

How will family life change?

“When you ride, you have a lot of free time,” he said. “You can only train so much, but you can’t use it for anything. It’s recovery.

“Hopefully I’ll be less tired all the time.

“I can eat a piece of cake for lunch because later when I’m at work, I won’t go the right way and won’t throw it away. I can go to the garden without thinking that I will be gifted. practice.”

Kenny still rides bikes for fun. “I always struggled to get around on my bike, it felt so pointless,” he said.

Jason and Laura Kenny
Jason and Laura Kenny are Britain’s most successful male and female Olympic athletes

Kenny said it helped his career by marrying another elite Olympic athlete.

“That’s going to change now Laura is moving on and I’m stopping,” he said. “It will be a new dynamic in our house.

“Living with a competitive athlete is always challenging but it’s so good that we can overcome each other, grow together and go to races together and spend all this really special time together.” normally away from your family.

“It was really special, we were really lucky.”

Between them, Jason (nine) and Laura Kenny (six) have won 15 Olympic medals
Between them, Jason (nine) and Laura Kenny (six) have won 15 Olympic medals



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