Dame Laura Kenny has called time on her illustrious career and has retired from professional cycling as Britain's most decorated female Olympian.
The track and road rider has decided not to compete in this summer’s Paris Olympics and wants instead to spend more time with husband Jason and their two children.
She told BBC Breakfast on Monday: “I always knew deep down I would know when was the right time. I have had an absolute blast but now is the time to hang up the bike.
“It’s been in my head for a little while, the sacrifices of leaving the children and your family at home is really quite big and it is a really big decision to make.
“More and more, I was struggling to do that. More people asked me what races I was doing, what training camps I was going on. I didn’t want to go ultimately and that’s what it came down to.”
Harlow-born Kenny will go down as an all-time great for distance and time trial riding. Here is how her career breaks down.
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What medals has Laura Kenny won?
Since 2010, Kenny has won 48 medals and an incredible 34 of those have been gold.
The young Laura Trott burst on to the scene as a 17-year-old in 2010 when she took world junior and European gold on the track.
The next year that translated into world gold as she joined Britain’s highly successful team pursuit team. But she was able to replicate her time trial prowess on the track endurance events, going on to thrive in the scratch and omnium (a collection of longer races where riders score points based on positions) disciplines.
In 2012, she really came into public consciousness when she took omnium and team pursuit gold at the London Olympics – the latter alongside Dani King and Joanna Rowsell. She defended these titles in 2016, when the pursuit was expanded to include four riders. Joining Trott were Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker and the now-named Rowsell-Shand.
Shortly after, she married Jason Kenny, who would go on to become Britain’s most decorated male medallist for his success in track cycling’s sprinting events.
Now named Laura Kenny, she was back for more in Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) where she won Madison gold alongside Archibald. The pair were joined by Neah Evans and Josie Knight to win team pursuit silver.
At the point of retirement she has won five Olympic golds, seven world golds, 14 European golds, two Commonwealth titles, and six golds at the European Under 23 Championships.
In 2021 she was made a dame for her services to cycling and Jason Kenny was knighted.
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How old was Laura Kenny when she retired?
Kenny, who was born in April, is currently 31. She retired on March 18, 2024.
What is Laura Kenny doing next?
Kenny has two children with her husband. Their son Albie was born seven years ago and a second son, Monty, arrived last year after she had previously suffered a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
She said on Monday: “I knew the minute I was getting those feelings. Once I said to Jase [her husband, former cyclist Jason Kenny], ‘I don’t think I want to ride a bike any more’, I started to feel relief.
“I was getting these hesitant feelings. Going on to win another gold medal, as much as I would love to do that, it wasn’t giving me the energy I wanted any more, it just wasn’t.
“I wasn’t thinking, ‘I really want to go and win one’, I was thinking, ‘I really want to stay home with the children’.”