Team GB’s Laura Kenny reveals she got advice from Jessica Ennis-Hill on juggling pregnancy and parenting with Olympic training – and admits she thought she had ‘no chance’ of a single medal
- Laura, 29, became most successful female cyclist in Olympic history last week
- Cyclist shares son Albie with Jason Kenny – Britain’s most decorated Olympian
- Won gold medal in women’s madison and silver in the team pursuit in Tokyo
- Admitted she thought there was ‘no chance’ of winning gold after giving birth
Team GB’s Laura Kenny says she got advice about juggling parenthood and Olympic training from Jessica Ennis-Hill throughout her pregnancy.
The 29-year-old cyclist became the most successful female cyclist in Olympic history last Friday after winning gold in Tokyo alongside Katie Archibald in the women’s madison, having earlier taken silver in the team pursuit.
Laura – who now has six Olympic medals across three Games, including five golds – shares young son Albie with husband Jason, who is the country’s most decorated Olympian.
Appearing on This Morning today from their Cheshire home, Laura said that while returning to cycling was more challenging than she thought, she received valuable advice from her ‘inspiration’ Jessica.
Team GB’s Laura Kenny says she got advice about juggling parenthood and Olympic training from Jessica Ennis-Hill throughout her pregnancy. The pair are pictured together during the 2012 Olympics in London
Laura- who now has six Olympic medals across three Games, including five golds – shares young son Albie with husband Jason, who is the country’s most decorated Olympian. The pair are pictured arriving back in the UK after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
‘I think it was harder than I was anticipating,’ said Laura. ‘You see loads of people do it, Jessica Ennis Hill was a massive inspiration to me. I was lucky I could actually speak to her throughout my pregnancy and the whole coming back from that.’
She said it was ‘overwhelming’ to win her fifth gold, confessing that she thought there was ‘no chance’ she would come home with any medals.
‘I must admit when I went to the Olympics, you know how well you’re doing,’ said Laura. We do so much training day in day out. Before we left I thought, “There’s just not a chance i’m coming home with any medals”.
‘I just seemed like a different athlete on that holding camp in the two weeks prior to us leaving than I felt in London and Rio, when I won the madison, honestly, I felt completely overwhelmed.’
Appearing on This Morning today from their Cheshire home, Laura said that while returning to cycling was more challenging than she thought, she received valuable advice from her ‘inspiration’ Jessica
The 29-year-old cyclist became the most successful female cyclist in Olympic history last Friday after winning gold in Tokyo alongside Katie Archibald in the women’s madison
Jason won the seventh Olympic gold of his illustrious career and his ninth medal overall on Sunday, and Laura said: ‘To know we’ve juggled being parents at home and then go to the Olympics was just insane.’
Speaking of his success, Jason added: ‘It’s a bit bizarre, it sort of happened by accident, I just sort of concentrated on one race at a time. It’s really special obviously.’
The pair were asked whether they’d be keen to receive a damehood and knighthood for their contributions to sport, to which Laura replied: ‘Any honour is a privilege.
‘It’s something you don’t chase, but if it’s something that does happen it would be a massive honour.’
Laura says the pair have joked about ‘making a clock’ with the sheer number of medals they’ve accumulated over the years – adding that following the latest Olympic Games they could make a piece out of their gold medals alone.
Despite her success at the games, Laura suffered a huge crash in a dramatic high-speed collision coming into the final lap of the first event of the women’s Omnium at the Izu Velodrome.
Laura says the pair have joked about ‘making a clock’ with the sheer number of medals they’ve accumulated over the years. The pair are pictured posing with their medals in Tokyo
Kenny had won two of the four events in the omnium, but says she was was ‘absolutely gutted’ to finish the omnium in sixth place.
‘It was a funny one when I went to bed [that night] I sat there and I was a bit disappointed, even though I was here with a gold medal’, said Laura.
Laura and Jason landed back in London following the games yesterday morning, and says that the pair have already indulged in a treat meal following their months of rigorous training.
‘We did already have a takeaway, said Laura. ‘When we did the closing ceremony I was desperate for something salty so we had chicken and chips.’
When asked whether their son Albie has an interest in cycling, Jason said: ‘He took to it like a duck to water, but he’s not really interested’.
Laura added: ‘He thinks daddy is stronger than The Hulk and faster than The Flash, that’s all we’ve got!’
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