Laura Kenny flooded with congratulations as she becomes most successful female cyclist in Olympic history

Laura Kenny has become the most successful female cyclist in Olympic history after her sensational performance with Katie Archibald in the women’s track final.

Kenny surpassed Dutchwoman Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel to take the title, as the Team GB cyclist achieved her fifth career Olympic gold.

“It’s unbelievable,” Kenny told the BBC of her achievement. “I am just so glad. I have never wanted to win a race so badly in my life. It was giving me fears like never before. But we went and did it.”

But she added that it wasn’t about the records. In regards to Team GB, Kenny now has the same number of Olympic medals as British equestrian Charlotte Dujardin but has two more golds. She is also the first British woman to win gold at three Olympics.

“I feel like we’re just making up these records as we go along!” Kenny said. “It’s not about the records, it’s about the race and I’m just so happy we won the bike race.”

People on Twitter sent their congratulatory messages to Kenny on winning gold and reaching an incredible milestone.

Many also congratulated both Kenny and Archibald on their gold medal win.

Former Olympic champion and Team GB track cyclist Chis Hoy congratulated the pair on their excellent race.

BBC Sports presenter Gabby Logan also tweeted a lovely message to congratulate Kenny and Archibald on their achievement.

Kenny and Archibald previously won gold together at the World Cup in London in December 2018 and European silver in October 2019.

They were also part of the team pursuit squad that won silver on Tuesday, defeated by a strong German team who broke the world record twice during competition.

Archibald said: “I’ve been dreaming about this. I’ve never wanted something so much and I’ve never been so nervous. But we’ve been clinical in our approach.

“I’d like to thank our coach Monica (Greenwood). None of this would have happened without Monica. She overhauled our approach to this event.”

Kenny and Archibald took home the gold medal after a strong performance, winning 10 of the 12 sprints, as well as picking up the double points for the last lap that solidified their victory.

Incredibly, the pair were able to gain a lap on the field to finish with 78 points, more than double the points of second-placed Denmark (35).

As Kenny has made Olympic history, here is a list of all her six gold medal wins:

• Team Pursuit – London 2012
• Omnium – London 2012
• Team Pursuit – Rio 2016
• Omnium – Rio 2016
• Madison – Tokyo 2020