Tokyo 2020 - Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald blow away rivals to claim sensational madison gold
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Updated 06/08/2021 at 12:43 GMT
The British pair of Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald were dominant throughout the women's madison final to win Team GB's second gold medal of the Tokyo Olympic Games and leave Kenny with a record sixth career medal, five of them golds. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+.
'Two amazing athletes' - GB's Kenny and Archibald celebrate madison gold
Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald produced a remarkable performance to take gold in the women’s madison at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.
The gold sees Kenny make history as the first British woman to win gold at three different Games. She is also the most decorated British female Olympian in history, drawing level with dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin on six total medals, but with five of those gold in the case of the extraordinary Kenny.
Only husband Jason Kenny, Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins are ahead of the 29-year-old in the British all-time standings, with the gold moving Kenny (five golds, one silver) ahead of legendary rower Steve Redgrave (five golds, one bronze).
The talented Scot Archibald adds madison gold to her team pursuit gold and silver from Rio and Tokyo respectively.
Archibald and Kenny were the dominant force right from the gun in the long track cycling race that sees riders work in pairs to compete for sprint points every ten laps, with riders interchanging via hand slings.
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'It means so much to both of them!' - GB's Archibald and Kenny receive madison gold medals
The Team GB pair more than lived up to their billing of favourites for gold with a sensational ride that saw them open up a huge early points advantage.
And the British riders underlined their dominance by storming off the front to also win the final sprint to finish with 78 points - more than double the points of their nearest rival.
"They were in charge, it’s a brilliant pairing,” said two-time Olympic champion Jo Rowsell on commentary immediately after the race.
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'I've never felt so in control of a race' - Emotional Kenny and Archibald on madison gold
“Both are fast in the sprints, so it was never a case of having the wrong rider in the race when it came around for the sprint laps, both are very fast.
“And both are also very attentive, staying towards the front of the group all the time, not getting in the way of any of those crashes, riding technically very well. They’ve clearly spent a lot of time working on the madison behind the scenes.
But Great Britain were just dominant from start to finish, never ever looked in trouble, never looked in the wrong place, just absolutely bossed it.
“It’s a new Olympic event for women here, it’s been raced at the World Championships four times now, since 2017, and it’s been such a popular event.”
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Katie Archibald (R) and Laura Kenny celebrate
Image credit: Getty Images
And eight-time Olympic medallist and Eurosport pundit Bradley Wiggins said that the performance was the “absolute definition of greatness”.
“Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald, what an absolutely dominant display,” Wiggins said.
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'Fabulous!' - GB's Kenny and Archibald 'strike gold' with madison triumph
“The only danger in the later stages was whether they were going to be in a crash through no fault of their own, but other teams, because it was that chaotic behind. There were lots of teams crashing, but they managed to stay upright and were always on the front foot.
“And they were always on the offensive which kept them out of trouble, scoring points consistently throughout, and they’ve won the gold medal.
“Absolute definition of greatness that was in a madison from them two.”
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Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald of Team Great Britain compete during the Women's Madison final of the track cycling on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Izu Velodrome on August 06, 2021 in Izu, Japan
Image credit: Getty Images
Team GB's Track Cycling medals at Tokyo 2020
- Gold - Women's madison - Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald
- Gold - Men's omnium - Matt Walls
- Silver - Women's Team pursuit - Katie Archibald, Laura Kenny, Neah Evans, Elinor Barker, Josie Knight
- Silver - Men's Team sprint - Ryan Owens, Jack Carlin, Jason Kenny
- Bronze - Men's individual sprint - Jack Carlin
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