Great Britain added to its track cycling dominance with another gold medal on Monday, with Jason Kenny winning men’s individual sprint at the Olympic Velodrome. For Kenny, one of the world’s finest cyclists, it’s his second Olympic medal in the event after winning silver in Beijing.
Jason Kenny Wins Men’s Individual Sprint Gold As Great Britain Continues Track Cycling Dominance
Kenny’s win was the host country’s fifth gold medal in the track cycling competition (the sixth medal overall in the velodrome). France’s Gregory Bauge settled for silver after losing to Kenny, 2-0 (in the knockout stages of sprint track cycling, the competition format is a best-of-three heats). Earlier in the event, Australian Shane Perkins won bronze, his first Olympic medal, by defeating Trinidad and Tobago’s Njisane Nicholas Phillip in the first two runs.
The silver and bronze, respectively, give France and Australia three total medal at the track, tied for second-best behind Great Britain’s half dozen.
In the first race of the gold medal final, Kenny waited patiently, lurking behind Bauge. On the third and final lap he attacked, going outside to grab the win by half a bike length.
In their second heat, Bauge lingered behind Kenny -- there is nearly as much strategy in track cycling as there is ridiculous speed -- until just before the final lap. Bauge dove inside to try to pass, but Kenny saw the tactic coming and blocked him. Bauge then tried to go outside but Kenny was simply too fast and managed to hold off the attacking Frenchman to win Great Britain’s second consecutive gold in men’s individual sprint (Chris Hoy took gold in Beijing, defeating Kenny in the process).
It’s Kenny’s second gold in London -- he also won in the team sprint with Hoy and Philip Hindes, setting a new world record in the process.
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