Great Britain’s most successful female Olympian Laura Kenny has announced her retirement from professional cycling after her hopes of making Paris 2024 faded.
Kenny, 31, won gold in the Omnium and Team pursuit events at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, before winning the Madison at Tokyo 2020.
Bowing out with seven World Championship and 14 European Championship golds, Kenny said she wanted to spend more time with husband Jason, the former track cyclist and seven-time Olympic champion, and their two sons.
She said: ‘I always felt I’d know when it was time to step away, and it is now time.
‘Cycling has given me so much – including a husband! – and I’ve always been immensely proud to represent my country. It’s been the honour of a lifetime.
Laura Kenny – Great Britain’s most successful female Olympian – has retired from professional cycling aged 31 after her hopes of making Paris 2024 faded
Kenny with husband Jason, the former Olympic track cyclist, at the Tokyo Olympics
The Kennys pictured at the Pride of Britain Awards in London in October 2022
Kenny said she was proud her legacy would be inspiring women and girls to get on their bikes
‘I know a lot of people will focus on the Olympics and the medals, but my biggest take away is the impact cycling has allowed me to have on other women and girls.
‘Throughout my career people have often told me how I inspired them to get active or get on a bike and I’d like that to be my legacy. A girl from Cheshunt that got the nation moving!
‘In terms of what’s next, who knows? I have so many exciting projects and plans to look forward to. After spending more time with my family I want to look at all the possibilities.
”Laura the cyclist’ has allowed me to connect with people and show a big part of my personality, but it isn’t all of me. There’s a lot more to show and I am excited to share that with people.
‘There are so many people that have played a huge part in my career. First and foremost I’d like to put on record my thanks to my family, who have been with me through everything and gave me my love for cycling. Words will never be enough to explain what you’ve done for me.
‘I’d also like to thank Team GB, British Cycling, my teammates and all the partners who have supported my journey. I can’t wait to explore all the ways we can continue to work with each other as I enter this exciting next stage of my career.’
Kenny gave birth to her first son, Albie, in 2017, after which she returned to cycling, keen to prove that athletes could juggle motherhood with the demands of professional sport.
After a miscarriage at nine weeks in late 2021, Kenny had an ectopic pregnancy a few months later.
Laura Trott – her maiden name – celebrate gold in the Omnium at the London 2012 Olympics
Trott (centre), celebrates 2012 Team Pursuit gold with Dani King (left) and Joanna Rowsell
‘Scared doesn’t even come close. I lost a fallopian tube that day,’ she said at the time. ‘I’ve always known I was tough, but sometimes life pushes you to an unbearable limit.’
The Kennys then welcomed their second son, Monty, in 2023.
She had targeted qualification for the Paris Olympics this summer but earlier this month, British Cycling performance director Stephen Park said Kenny had only a ‘slim chance’ of competing.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Kenny said: ‘I always knew deep down I would know when was the right time. I have had an absolute blast but now is the time for me to hang that bike up.’
Laura Trott – her maiden name – burst into the national consciousness after winning gold in the women’s Omnium and team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics in London.
It was during the London 2012 Games that her relationship with fellow cyclist Jason Kenny became public
Sir Jason and Dame Laura receive their medals at a Windsor Castle Investiture in May 2022
It was also during those Games her relationship with Jason became public as they quickly became Britain’s golden sporting couple.
She repeated that gold medal double four years later in Rio – becoming the first British woman to win four Olympic golds.
At the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Kenny won team pursuit silver before partnering with Katie Archibald to win gold in the women’s Madison, a new event.
It made Kenny the first British woman to win a gold medal at three consecutive Olympics. She was made a Dame in the 2021 New Year’s Honours.
