Becky James Reaches Silver Lining After Taking The Hard Road

Becky James claimed the first Olympic medal of her career by winning a last-gasp silver in the women’s keirin on Saturday night.

The Welsh rider sat worryingly at the back of the six-rider field going into the last of the eight laps but then produced a brilliant acceleration and was only beaten to gold by the Netherlands’ Elis Ligtlee by half the width of a wheel.

It was a remarkable result for James given that she returned to racing less than a year ago from a long-term knee injury and a cancer scare that together decimated her 2014 and 2015 seasons and almost ended her career.

James, from Abergavenny celebrated afterwards at trackside with her family and boyfriend George North, and said: “I was desperate for that medal.

“I can’t believe what just happened and I am over the moon. I came in here in some really good form and that’s what I needed.

“I love the keirin and once I got through the first round I just thought I would enjoy the whole day of racing.

“In that final I was just thinking when do I go and I had so much speed in that last burst and I don’t know where it came from.

“It was so special to have my family here. I have 10 of them here and it’s incredible. My Mum has never been on a long-haul flight.

“Having George here, my little sisters and auntie is amazing. I have had so much support. It has been a tough 18 months or two years and I could not have done it without them.

“It’s going to be a medal we have all won together.”

James, who won the keirin world title 2013 before injury and illness derailed her career, qualified for the final by winning her first-round heat and then finishing second in the second round.

Elinor Barker’s gold triumph and the silver medal won by James moments later took the total of Welsh Olympic medallists to eight in Brazil.

Those two medals came after Doull’s gold, two silvers for swimmer Jazz Carlin and second place finishes for rower Vicky Thornley and Rugby Sevens stars James Davies and Sam Cross.

This haul beats Wales’ record of seven medallists that was achieved at London 2012 with another week of competition remaining.