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Jason Kenny reverses decision to quit track cycling and commits to Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Jason Kenny will make his eagerly-awaited return to track racing at the Revolution Series event at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre on Jan 6 - © Sportsbeat/Roberto Payne
Jason Kenny will make his eagerly-awaited return to track racing at the Revolution Series event at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre on Jan 6 - © Sportsbeat/Roberto Payne

Jason Kenny has reversed his decision to retire from track cycling, which he says he had “pretty much made in my head”, and will continue on to Tokyo 2020 where he will attempt to become Britain’s most successful ever Olympian.

Kenny, who will be 33 by the time of the Tokyo Games, is currently tied with former team-mate Sir Chris Hoy on six gold medals after completing a famous treble in Rio in 2016; winning the team sprint, the individual sprint and a dramatic keirin, which twice had to be restarted, in the space of one extraordinary week.

The Bolton rider’s celebrations with his then fiancée Laura Trott – who had herself become Britain’s most successful female Olympian at Rio with a total of four gold medals – made them Team GB’s ‘golden couple’ for a second successive Games after their relationship became public knowledge at London 2012.

Jason Kenny - Jason Kenny 'excited' about return to the track in countdown to Tokyo Games - Credit: Getty Images
Jason Kenny will compete at the Tokyo Olympics Credit: Getty Images

Now a father, with baby Albert having been born last month, Kenny said a year off had given him the hunger he needed to return to the track. “In my head I’d pretty much made the decision that I wasn’t going to come back after the Games,” he said at a press call at the national velodrome in Manchester. “I didn’t want to announce anything or commit just because I’m not that kind of person. I didn’t want that big fanfare or anything daft.

“I was happy to walk away and do other things and be normal. I’d had enough of always living my life to a schedule and it being full on 24/7.

“When I did refresh I started enjoying it again, out on the mountain bike and going to the gym. I like the feeling. Before I knew it I was training and feeling like myself again.”

Kenny will make his track return at the Revolution Series event at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre on Jan 6 but warned he would still be a bit rusty, the aim being to be in good shape this time next year when qualification for Tokyo begins.

Rouleur Classic | Tickets now on sale
Rouleur Classic | Tickets now on sale

He added that he almost felt like he did before his first Olympic Games in Beijing nine years ago. “It excites me, which is different to previous cycles,” Kenny said.

“At this point in the cycle [with three years to go], it’s usually quite difficult, you’ve had the spike for the Games and you’re in a bit of a dip now. It’s quite nice now to be at the start, it almost feels like my first one, Beijing, this is where I was at when I was 17, you’re at the bottom, looking up, and you’re looking to go in that direction, which is quite exciting.”

  • Six-time Olympic gold medallist Jason Kenny returns to racing at the Revolution Champions League. Tickets now on sale at www.cyclingrevolution.com