Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female Olympian, retires from cycling

Get The Latest On Cycling To Boxing With Our Free Sport Newsletter

Get The Latest Sport News With Our Free Email Signup

British athlete Dame Laura Kenny, who has won five gold medals across three Olympics, has revealed that she is retiring from cycling. She is considered the most successful female Olympian in Great Britain's history.

Kenny had a prior agenda to strive for Paris 2024 and make one more appearance in the Olympics, but he has now decided to withdraw straightaway and observe from a distance.

Kenny expressed her gratitude towards cycling, as it has given her more than just a career. She acknowledged how cycling has also introduced her to her spouse, who is also a champion in the Olympics, and contributed to the growth of their family. This heartfelt note was shared by Kenny on her Instagram account.

It means a lot to me when individuals mention that I have motivated women and girls to engage in physical activity and ride a bicycle. I want to express my gratitude to Team GB, British Cycling, and all the supporters who have helped me throughout my journey.

I want to express my gratitude to every fellow team member I've had throughout the years, as well as my family for being my ultimate support system. Although I'm now saying goodbye, please continue to keep up with me for what's to come in the next part of my journey.

Laura Kenny, a Dame, has declared that she will retire (John Walton/PA).

Kenny, who was formerly known as Laura Trott until she married Olympic champion Sir Jason Kenny, entered the world six weeks early with a collapsed lung. Upon receiving medical advice to improve lung function, Kenny's parents decided to introduce her to cycling as a means of achieving this goal.

She became well-known during the London Olympics after winning gold medals in both the omnium and team pursuit events. Her romantic relationship with sprint champion Jason further piqued the public's interest in this newly crowned golden couple from Britain.

Kenny successfully secured her titles in Rio and triumphantly claimed her fifth and ultimate gold medal in the Madison event in Tokyo last year. She also managed to clinch the silver medal in the team pursuit and successfully secured the Commonwealth gold medal in the scratch race at Birmingham 2022.

However, she acknowledged that she was experiencing difficulties with her emotional wellbeing and felt directionless following a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy prior to the Commonwealth games.

Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Kenny were granted the titles of Knight Bachelor and Dame Commander, respectively, during an awards ceremony. They were recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions in their fields of expertise.

During an interview with BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, the individual who is 31 years old expressed that they had a gut feeling that the right time to move on had arrived. They conveyed that they had an incredible time, but now it's time for them to retire from their passion.

Kenny and her spouse decided to retire from their coaching career in 2022. Last year, they welcomed another baby boy to their family. Kenny admitted that she is becoming more drawn to the idea of staying at home with her family.

It's been on my mind for some time now. The commitment of leaving your kids and loved ones at home is a huge sacrifice, and deciding to do so is a significant choice," she expressed.

I found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the demands. More individuals inquiring about the types of races I would be participating in and the training camps I would be attending. Ultimately, I did not have any desire to go and that was the underlying issue.

As soon as I noticed those emotions arising within me, I became aware of what was happening. Once I expressed to Jase that I had lost interest in cycling, I began to experience a sense of comfort and ease.