United Kingdom: Dame Laura Kenny, the most decorated female Olympian, has announced her retirement from professional cycling. The cycling rock star announced her retirement through her Instagram post saying that it was ‘time to move on.’
Dame Laura said in her message that, “Thank you cycling for everything you’ve given me – including a husband and our growing family! Having people say I have inspired women and girls to get active and get on a bike means the world to me.”
“Thanks to Team GB, British Cycling and all the partners who have supported my journey. A special thanks to every teammate I have had over the years and of course to my family for being the best support unit I could ever have wished for. It’s now time to move on but stay following for the next chapter,” she added.
Former most successful British Olympian and ex-cyclist, Jason Kenny, married her in 2016. Two sons were born to the couple in 2017 and 2023. Jason retired after the Tokyo Olympics. The cycling star experienced a miscarriage in November 2021. Later, she underwent surgery due to an ectopic pregnancy.
Recently, British Cycling’s performance director, Stephen Park, stated that there was only a slim chance of Dame Laura competing at the Paris Olympics this summer. But, she did not return to Team GB training after giving birth in July last year.
Dame Laura won gold in the women’s omnium and team pursuit at the London Olympics in 2012 and repeated the feat in Rio in 2016. Her retirement now marks the end of her illustrious career, which saw her achieve great success in the world of cycling.
Kenny won a silver medal in the team pursuit and a gold medal with Katie Archibald in the women’s Madison event at the Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. The women’s Madison was a new event introduced at the Games.
Dame Laura owned a remarkable career on the track, winning five Olympic gold medals and seven world titles. The last epic victory for a female Olympian was a gold medal in the scratch race at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
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