Cycling Track at the 2020 Summer Olympics

The 2020 track cycling was one of the competitions taking place outside Tokyo. They were held in the Izu Velodrome, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, about 100 km south-west of Tokyo. A purpose-built velodrome, it opened in 2011 with a 250-metre wooden surface. It could hold 3,600 spectators. The 2020 program was extended from Rio, with the return of the 2-person Madison. It was last seen for men only in 2008 but in Tokyo it returned and made its début as part of the women’s programme.

Great Britain came to Tokyo having dominated in both London 2012 and Rio 2016, when they topped the medal table each time, winning a total of 13 of the 20 gold medals that were on offer. They still had stalwarts like Jason Kenny and Laura Trott in their squad. Since Rio the pair had got married, and had a son, Albie. The British men’s pursuit team was hoping for a fourth straight gold, while their women were going for a third consecutive pursuit win. Denmark and USA, however, were the respective world champions in 2020 and had every chance of ending the two British monopolies on the pursuit. The Americans beat Britain in the 2020 world final and were also silver medallists in Rio.

Australia were expected to continue their rivalry with Team GB, but the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and the United States had all emerged as strong track cycling nations in the two years before the Tokyo Games, with many successes between them at the World Championships. In Emma Hinze, Germany had one of the stand-out competitors after winning three gold medals at the 2020 World Championships, and America’s Chloé Dygert came away from the 2020 Worlds with gold in the individual and team pursuit.

The big stories of the Games centred around the Mr. and Mrs. Kenny. Jason became the most celebrated Olympian of all time, with nine medals, including a record seven golds. By coincidence, fellow British multi-medallists Sir Chris Hoy (7), Sir Steven Redgrave (6) and Sir Mo Farah (4) were all born on 23 March, the same day as Kenny. No doubt, like the others, Kenny will soon become Sir Jason? As for wife Laura, she took her Olympic collection to a record six medals, including five golds, to make her the most successful female British Olympian of all-time. Between them the Kenny’s had won a total of 15 medals.

The most successful men’s nation was Great Britain with five medals, including two golds, while the top individual male rider was Netherlands’ Harrie Lavreysen who won gold in the individual and team pursuit and bronze in the keirin.

Six countries won two medals in the women’s competition with Great Britain and Germany finishing best, each with one gold and one silver. The only women to win two medals were Laura Trott and Jennifer Valente (USA).