Published: 16 August 2016
Team GB’s Becky James has won a silver medal in the sprint, and adding to her silver medal in the Keirin.
Becky James began her journey to the sprint finals qualifying fastest on Sunday, setting a new Olympic record of 10.721. Becky’s acceleration enabled her to see off her opponents on her way to the finals, where she faced Germany’s Vogel in the battle for gold. Vogel proved to be a tough opponent, and sealed her gold in two races, with Becky settling for silver.
Becky said: “I’m over the mood. I was aiming for that gold so it is a little bit disappointing but if someone had said to me a couple of weeks ago that I’d be coming away with two silver medals I would have taken it. I’m absolutely thrilled.
“I have come here in the form of my life. Two silvers and an Olympic record will be something that sticks in the memory.
“I didn’t feel massively confident coming into the sprints as I was getting knocked out in the World Cups but I got more and more confident here with each race and just a little a bit frustrating that I couldn’t take that final to a third heat.
“Kristine really wound the pace up and it was hard racing. She just had me on the line but it felt amazing just being here and I’m really happy with how I raced. I thought I just had her in the second but fair play to her she’s an incredible rider.
“Katy is phenomenal. You wouldn’t think at the last Olympics she didn’t know anything about track cycling and now she’s here winning a bronze medal. We’ve trained so hard together since the Worlds and have driven each other through and got each other going. I couldn’t have done it without her so I’m really pleased we get to share a podium together."
Becky James from Abergavenny is competing in her first Olympics in Rio 2016. She has won silver in the Keirin, and adds sprint silver to her Rio 2016 medal haul.
Matt Cosgrove, Performance Director at Welsh Cycling said: “I would like to congratulate Becky, again, on her silver medal, her second medal at the Rio Olympics. Becky James has shone in Rio, demonstrating her speed and strength throughout the three days of sprint competition. She hasn’t had an easy road to Rio, both her Olympic medals are much deserved. Everyone in Wales can be proud of Becky’s performance, to win two medals in one Olympic Games is a fantastic achievement.”
Anne Adams-King, Chief Executive Officer at Welsh Cycling said: “On behalf of Welsh Cycling, I would like to congratulate Becky on her silver medal in the sprint. This is the fourth medal on the velodrome for Welsh cyclists, all of whom started their track cycling journey here at the Wales National Velodrome. We’ve seen over the last few days how performances on the velodrome in Rio are inspiring youngsters in Wales. We are all proud of Becky’s achievements, at Welsh Cycling and across Wales. ”
Becky represented Wales in the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games winning two medals and became a double world champion in 2013, in the sprint and Keirin, and also medalled in the team sprint and 500m time trial. Following a prolonged period of illness and injury, missing out on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Becky returned to the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships to take bronze in the Keirin.
