Cycling couple Jason and Laura Kenny crowned our greatest Olympians EVER as Team GB bring home 65-medals
TEAM GB will fly home triumphant from Japan with 65 medals — as golden couple Jason and Laura Kenny were crowned our Olympic royalty.
Mark England, the team boss, called our success “the greatest achievement in British Olympic history” in the wake of the pandemic and hailed “the miracle of Tokyo”.
Our triumphs over the 16 days of the Olympic Games came in everything from skateboarding to boxing and BMX to gymnastics — and plenty of sports in between.
The Kennys led the way, with the couple now having a total of 12 gold and three silver medals.
Jason, 33, cemented his place in history yesterday when he took gold in a thrilling men’s keirin race on the final day.
Laura, 29, now Britain’s most successful female athlete with five golds, was given the “absolute honour” of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony.
She said: “The past 18 months have been tough for everyone, and I really hope me and my Team GB teammates have given the nation something to celebrate.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in. All I know is that I’ve worked so hard to be here — but I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends and everyone at British Cycling.”
When asked if the couple could now finally make a clock out of their 12 gold medals, Jason replied: “We have done it now.
“I was expecting Laura to get the 12th to be honest. Unfortunately, she was on the floor earlier. It has been a long race.”
A crash for Laura in the omnium, an event in which she was defending champion, robbed her of yet another podium finish.
There were calls last night for the couple to be made a knight and a dame in recognition of their contribution to sport.
All the events took place behind closed doors without spectators and with competitors allowed to leave their hotel only for training or for a supervised walk.
And bookies William Hill have made their three-year-old son Albie 100-1 to win a medal at an Olympic Games and 250-1 for that medal to be a gold in the cycling.
Jason described the achievement as “really special” as little Albie cheered them on from their home back in Chelford, Cheshire.
He admitted: “I have been disappointed I haven’t been as competitive as I wanted to be. But in the keirins, you can race hard and ride your luck.
“I had all but given up, I was counting my career in days and races as opposed to years — but maybe I have bought myself more time now.”
Jason overtook Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins to become the most successful British Olympian. Team GB, fourth in the medal table in Japan, matched their London 2012 total — with 22 golds, 21 silvers, and 22 bronze medals.
I had all but given up, I was counting my career in days and races as opposed to years — but maybe I have bought myself more time now.
Jason Kenny
Chef de Mission Mark England branded Tokyo as “the greatest achievement” given the hardships faced because of the pandemic.
England said: “The team has made history on the back of the most complex and most challenging environment that we will face, certainly in my lifetime.
“It has been against all the odds and I think it is the greatest achievement in British Olympic history. It has been the miracle of Tokyo and it has been wonderful to be here.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Games had showcased the “very best of this country”.
He added: “From record-breaking performances in the pool to gravity-defying runs in skateboarding and BMX, this team has shown extraordinary depth of talent.
“I want to thank each and every one of our Olympians and all those behind the scenes whose hours of coaching and training have been instrumental to our success.
He said: “This is a very, very young team and a very talented team, and a team I’m confident will go to Paris in less than three years and do exceptionally well.”
“You have shown grace in victory and amazing courage in defeat. And while you may not have heard the roar of the crowd in Tokyo, every one of you has given us a reason to cheer back home — in living rooms, pubs, parks and offices across the land.”
While you may not have heard the roar of the crowd in Tokyo, every one of you has given us a reason to cheer back home.
Boris Johnson
The athletes fell two medals short of the 67 bagged at Rio 2016 when the country finished second in the overall leaderboard.
The pared-down closing ceremony featured ska bands, football freestylers, breakdancers and BMX riders. It included a parade of flagbearers, but 62 nations were missing because they had to leave early due to Covid rules.
England, looking forward to Paris 2024, pointed to the 16 fourth places achieved by British athletes over the past two weeks as a chance to scoop more podium spots in the next Games.
Gold medallists can look forward to extra funding with UK Sport dishing out cash based on each team’s success at the Games.
After Sky Brown’s amazing Tokyo bronze medal, at just 13, funding for skateboarding at the next Olympic Games will increase to £1,672,485 from just £197,725.
