LAUR UNTO HERSELF
How Laura Kenny recovered from life-saving surgery and mystery blackouts to become Britain’s greatest female Olympian
She also revealed her plans for life after cycling
THE DRIVE, determination and bravery that Laura Kenny showed to wondrous effect on a bike were qualities she needed the very moment she was born.
Britain’s greatest female Olympian arrived into this world six weeks prematurely in April 1992 via emergency caesarean at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex.
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Yet before the tiny tot could be held in her mother’s arms, she was whisked off to undergo life-saving surgery.
A tube was inserted underneath her left underarm – the zigzag scar is still visible to this day – to inflate a collapsed lung.
For the next four to six weeks, she was hooked up to incubator tubes in a baby intensive care unit as she fought for life.
That was not the end of her troubles and growing up, she faced all manner of health issues.
There were terrifying blackouts, a perpetual cold that turned into a chest infection, before asthma was officially diagnosed.
Sport was recommended to her parents as a way of trying to increase her lung capacity as a child.
After trying out running, swimming and trampolining – the latter was considered too dangerous due to her unexplained losses of consciousness – she discovered a love of cycling.
Around the same time her mum managed to lose five stone in 18 months through sheer peddle power.
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It is quite remarkable therefore – given her disruptive, terrifying start to life and the accidental path into cycling – that Kenny would end up being supreme on two wheels and one day become a Dame for her exploits.
But then anyone who has met Kenny would testify to her being one stubborn and competitive so-and-so that just got on with things.
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Someone who is desperate to prove that no matter your circumstances or size – she is just 5ft 4in in her riding socks – you can still succeed in life.
Even when she crashed, and there have been plenty of broken bones down the years, she still got back on the saddle.
Even when she used to regularly vomit after exercise due to an acute form of acid reflux, she would still want to continue.
Kenny said: “If you had written down when I was 15, you’re going to win this, this and this, and then you’re going to get knighted at the end of it…
“Well, I’d have been like: ‘No, I’m not! I’m just this girl from Cheshunt. No way!’”
By the age of 20, the trailblazer had become a double Olympic champion, winning gold medals at the Stratford Velodrome in the women’s team pursuit and Omnium.
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It was also the summer of love as her relationship with fellow rider and now husband Jason Kenny was revealed to the world – the Golden Couple were snapped kissing at a beach volleyball match at Horse Guards Parade, sitting behind David Beckham.
Those two titles were defended successfully at the Rio 2016 Olympics with the women’s team pursuit glory achieved in world-record pace.
And in Tokyo three years ago, she claimed gold in the Madison with Katie Archibald and silver in the team pursuit.
No Team GB woman has matched her tally of five Olympic titles. Nor won gold medals at three consecutive Games.
Kenny was successful in Japan four years after giving birth to son Albie. Second son Monty arrived last July.
But there was heartbreak and many nights of tears following a miscarriage and then an ectopic pregnancy, which represented the “worst 12 months of my life”.
Ultimately, the juggle between sport and motherhood – she calls it “organised carnage” – was too much to take on with the Paris Olympics just four months away.
The desire to go to the 2028 LA Games when she will be 36 years old, the same age as Chris Hoy was at London 2012, does not appeal.
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The chance to coach, the same route Jason has gone down, is off the table as she does not crave the responsibility.
Now it is all about ‘mum life’, looking after a sleepless Monty and there is a parents’ evening to attend next week.
Kenny explained: “Once Monty came along, Jason really saw a shift in my mindset.
“When I had Albie, I was fully in, committed, 100%. Whereas with Monty, I think he could tell I was wanting to spend more time at home.
“When Paris happens, it feels like I’ll be absolutely fine.
“The competition has been carrying on without me anyways. I’ve watched the girls win the world championships. I think I’m okay with it now.
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“Without that drive, it’s difficult to just keep doing it. If you’re not going to fully commit to something, then it’s done.
“It’s just such hard work. What we have to put our bodies through is so intense, so much pain, I just couldn’t imagine hurting myself like that again.”
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