Olympic silver medallist Josie Knight insists Laura Kenny’s retirement will not dent Team GB’s prospects in the velodrome at Paris 2024.
Britain’s greatest female Olympian announced her retirement in March and Knight is one of those carrying the flame into the first Games without a Kenny in 20 years.
Knight believes Kenny’s absence will not impact on Team GB’s ability to upgrade team pursuit silver to gold, retain the Madison title or compete in the omnium.
“Absolutely not,” said Knight. “At one time, she was the absolute superstar. Because so many people, including me, grew up wanting to be Laura Kenny, we’ve now got this huge pool of talent to choose from.
“We’re world champions for a reason. That didn’t happen by fluke, we’re a group of seriously talented athletes hoping to win gold in Paris.”
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As a youngster, Knight learned the names of male road racing icons like Alberto Contador on family cycling holidays to the Pyrenees. But Kenny and Lizzie Deignan were her first female role models in the sport.
“She was the first, she fully paved the way for us” said Knight. “She’s a superstar! She’s a household name. If I bump into a stranger and they find out I’m a track cyclist, they know her name and she brought so much attention to our sport.
Laura Kenny paved the way for others (Getty Images)“She was such a normal person at the same time. I remember the first track session I did with her, I was so nervous, I didn’t want to do anything out of line in case she judged me.
"But she was just this silly, bubbly, laughing character that got nervous too. She was so down to earth and wasn’t above anyone, that was the most inspiring thing about her.”
Knight now counts Kenny as one of her ‘best friends’ and they won European gold, Olympic silver and Commonwealth bronze together in the team pursuit.
“Mainly I was really happy for her because (retiring) must have been something she was really struggling with,” said Knight.
“I said to her that she’s won everything there is to win, she would only be repeating what she’s done. She has missed out on a lot of time with [her son] Albie due to sacrifices with sport and it’s really nice she can spend some more time with the two boys now.”
How will Team GB's cyclists do in Paris? (Getty Images)Knight’s laser focus is now on upgrading Tokyo silver to gold in Paris in the team pursuit alongside housemate Katie Archibald.
She is among the 1,000-strong cohort of elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing her to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support.
Knight, Archibald, Elinor Barker and Anna Morris were crowned world champions in the event in Glasgow in 2023 to fuel hopes for this summer.
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“I was very excited by the idea of Laura getting back into the team,” said Knight. “But it wasn’t a surprise when she announced her retirement because we knew she had a long way to come.
“It also felt like we’d come a long way as a team since she was with us. We won Worlds in Glasgow without her. It wasn’t like, ‘oh god, what are we going to do without her.’ That shows the strength of where we’re at at the moment.”
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