Cycling Track at the 2016 Summer Olympics

The 2016 track cycling events were held at the main Olympic Park in a specially constructed indoor velodrome with a 250.0 metre wooden track. The program was the same as in London in 2012, with five events for men and women – sprint, keirin, team sprint, team pursuit, and omnium.

There was an expectation that track cycling medals would be more evenly shared this time around as Great Britain, who had dominated the two previous editions, had suffered a spate of retirements amongst the team and was in the throes of a controversy involving alleged bullying by one of the coaches. The British, however, spurred on by the performances of power couple Jason Kenny and Laura Trott, peaked at the right time and again topped the cycling medal table with six golds and 12 medals in total.

As part of the men’s team pursuit winning team Bradley Wiggins became the first cyclist to win eight Olympic medals while Jason Kenny’s three gold medals left him and compatriot Chris Hoy as the only six time Olympic cycling champions. Kenny’s soon-to-be wife Laura Trott became only the 2nd female cyclist to win four Olympic golds.