Baker Becky Serves Up Olympic Silver Double Helping

 

 

Becky James will reach for the baking tray after cooking up a second Olympic silver medal in Rio.

The Welsh cycling star claimed runner-up spot in the women’s sprint – the filling in an amazing layer cake for Great Britain on the last day of the track cycling programme.

First, Laura Trott claimed gold in the women’s omnium, then James’ training partner Katy Marchant picked up a surprise bronze in the sprint, before Jason Kenny earned his third gold of the Games in the Keirin, his sixth Olympic title in total.

But for James – – just pipped to gold by Germany’s Kristina Vogel – this was the perfect confection after injuries and illness very nearly brought her cycling career to an end last year.

‘I couldn’t ask for much more,’ the delighted 24-year-old said.

‘A year ago I was in a training camp in Valencia and it was my first one back and I was so off the pace.

‘If I could have seen myself now back then I would never had expected this. It’s a good thing to look back on.

‘I’ve just felt incredible being here and I’m really, really happy with how I raced.

‘Now I really want to make a custard slice but I always make carrot cake, so I’ll probably do that first.’

When she is not biking, baking has become Becky’s thing, and she has an Instagram account to prove it.

But James, first and foremost, is a racer, as she proved in Saturday’s Keirin and again in the sprint, where she was only a photo finish away from forcing Germany’s seven-time world champion Kristina Vogel into a third and final race for gold.

A double world junior champion and a Commonwealth Games medallist at 18, James has been tipped for success for years but fitness worries have held her back.

She just missed the team in London 2012 but was the best sprinter in the world in 2013, only to then suffer a serious knee injury and a minor cancer scare.

One of five children, James grew up in Abergavenny and was a talented showjumper until she decided to concentrate on two wheels.

James gave a hint of her return to form with a bronze medal ride at the World Championships in London and there is a slight suspicion that the Olympics have come a few months too early for a rider who is growing in strength and speed.

She was roared on here by her boyfriend, Wales and Lions winger George North, and her parents and grandparents. It was the first time her mum had been on a long-haul flight as she usually looks after Becky’s sister Bethan, who needs 24-hour care after being born with fluid on the brain.

James’ two silvers in Rio helped Team GB to a stunning 11 medals in the velodrome, making this the third Games in a row British riders have utterly dominated the event.

‘There is no secret, we just train so hard,’ said James.

‘I’m sure every other country does too but I know I just knuckled down and worked hard and it’s all paid off. No secrets!’