SEVENTH HEAVEN
Jason Kenny storms to brilliant keirin win and seventh Olympic gold medal of glittering career
CYCLING SUPERSTAR Jason Kenny underlined his position as the greatest British Olympian in 125 years by winning a record seventh Olympic title.
Kenny, who has had a mixed time this week at the Izu Velodrome, saved the best for last with a magnificent performance to defend the men’s Keirin.
3
3
Kenny, 33, put down the gas with three laps to go and committed to attacking the race – and the tactic worked perfectly against much stronger finishers.
This is his seventh Olympic gold – one more than Sir Chris Hoy – and it is his ninth medal in total from four Games, surpassing the tally he had jointly held with Sir Bradley Wiggins.
Kenny had to go through the repechage to make the final following an underwhelming display in the first round.
Yet there are few people quicker or craftier on a pair of wheels and this was arguably his greatest display in what could be his final Olympics appearance.
Sir Chris Hoy, 45, long retired from track cycling, was left gobsmacked watching from the BBC studios in Salford.
He said: “I have never seen a race like this. It was incredible.
“You could see he opened up the gap and then he went for it.
“If you don’t commit you will get swamped. He gained height and maintained the pressure on the pedal. It was an absolutely awesome performance.
“To win like that at the Olympic Games in that manner is unbelievable.
“When you commit, you have to go – there is no Plan B. That was the perfect ride for Jason.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Most read in Tokyo 2020
PREMIER WIN! Get crazy 20/1 odds on Salah scoring ONE goal in August
“This is a race we will talk about for decades. An Olympic final where one person just blew them away. Incredible.
“In a situations like this, the biggest race of your life, you get caught in two minds and you can hesitate.
“Jason is so experienced and as a racer’s instinct, he saw the gap, his initial strategy was out of the window. The Keirin is a gambling sport, so many variables.
"That is why he is a seven-time champion and made history.”
Malaysian Mohd Azizulhasni Awang won silver while Dutchman Harrie Laverysen was third.
JUST CHAMPION! Get huge odds boost for Fulham AND Boro in lunchtime clash
DREAM TEAM IS BACK!
3
Jason Kenny collects seventh gold medal of glittering career making British Olympic history
Topics