Sunday, August 8, 2021

Tokyo 2020 Flash Quotes: Day 16

Comments from Team GB athletes Lauren Price (boxing), Jason Kenny (track cycling) and Laura Kenny (track cycling) following the final day of action at Tokyo 2020. Price and Jason Kenny won Team GB's last two medals, both gold, while Laura Kenny was named Team GB flagbearer for today's Closing Ceremony.


Lauren Price

Age: 27 Hometown: Wales: Ystrad Mynach

Result: Gold medallist in the women's middleweight division, winning Team GB's 22nd and final gold medal of Tokyo 2020


On her granddad, who died last year


“When the decision came, I looked up to him.

“He was a massive part of my life and if it wasn’t for him or my nan, I wouldn’t have achieved anything. They have always supported me 100 per cent.

“Speaking to my nan before I came out, I said I am going to get an Olympic medal and bring it back to her.

“I spoke to her on FaceTime last night and then when I woke up in the morning, I got a big paragraph from her about dreaming as a little girl.

“She always says if I reach for the moon, I can fall on the stars. And that is how far I have come.”


Jason Kenny

Age: 33 Hometown: Greater Manchester: Bolton

Result: Team GB's most successful Olympian of all time, with nine medals including seven golds, after successfully defending his keirin title


On the winning feeling, five years on from Rio 2016


"It is special. It's been a really tough week. I've been really disappointed with my speed. We've trained really hard and tapered really well but it hasn't popped out the peak speed that I was hoping for.

"You saw in the sprint, Jack [Carlin] stole the speed that I wanted. And that's where I expected us to be - Jack made that jump and I couldn't match him so I was disappointed with that.

"But it's special to get a gold medal still at the end of the day, just through kicking up and racing hard really."


On getting more medals, and more gold medals, than anyone other British Olympian


"I've been really lucky. My first Olympics was Beijing and British Cycling has been dominant in the Olympics I've been involved with so this was a really tough one for us.

"We didn't get off the start that we're used to, we're normally bringing home three gold medals on those early days.

"So we've had to battle and scrap through this so I'm really proud to be part of what has been another successful Olympics for us as a team. 

"I've been lucky that all of my Olympics have been good ones.

"It's special, really special. It just comes down to keep chipping away.

"Yesterday, the sprint was really tough. It was just a case of keep turning up and getting stuck in really, this week."


On celebrating when he gets home with his son, Albie


"I think just being at home is the plan, to just be together. We've not seen him for two weeks now which is the longest we've ever been away from him.

"We've never left him for more than a day or two so it's been really tough. It's been really tough on us, I don't think he's bothered!

"It's been really tough to be away from him so it'll be nice to get back and just be daft really."


Laura Kenny

Age: 29 Hometown: Hertfordshire: Cheshunt

Result: Sixth in the omnium. Named Team GB flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony after becoming the most successful female Olympian in Team GB history, winning gold (Madison) and silver (team pursuit) at Tokyo 2020.


On being named Team GB's Closing Ceremony flagbearer


“It’s an absolute honour to be selected as the Team GB flagbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony, and it rounds off my Games experience.

“The past 18 months have been tough for everyone, and I really hope me and my Team GB teammates have given the nation something to celebrate.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in that I am now Britain’s most successful female athlete, all I know is that I’ve worked so hard to be here and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends and everyone at British Cycling.”


On winning gold and silver


“If you’d said, ‘you’ll win the Madison’, I’d have said thank you and taken that.

“As much as I feel disappointed now [following the omnium], I’m really, really happy. I’d never have thought I’d come away with another gold medal, I just didn’t.

“So to come away with a gold, it’s been unbelievable."


On being a mum and winning


“I’ve proved to myself that it’s doable. Hopefully other people debating having a child and a career, I think it proves that you can do it.

“There was a part of me that did wonder if I could do this, whether it was possible. 

“In the Madison I felt like a different person. Hopefully I have proved it is possible.”

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