Laura Trott becomes GB’s most successful female Olympian

 

Great Britain’s Laura Trott claimed gold in the women’s omnium after beating America’s Sarah Hammer by 24 points.

Laura Trott becomes the first British women to win four Olympic gold medals; winning two golds at the Rio Olympics Games in the omnium and the team pursuit, and defending both of the titles she won at the London 2012 Olympics and over-taking horse-rider Charlotte Dujardin in the process.

The Team GB athlete was in the gold medal position after day one of the competition, finishing yesterday with an eight-point advantage over second place Belgium’s Jolien D’Hoore, with America’s Sarah Hammer a further two points adrift in third place.

“I can’t believe it. I didn’t expect that at all,” an emotional Trott told BBC Sport.

“I couldn’t have done it without everyone, especially Paul Manning my coach. He puts up with me on a daily basis and I am over the moon.”

Trott dominated against her competitors from start to finish being by far the best cyclist in the omnium competition. She finished second in the scratch race, won the individual pursuit and then easily won the elimination race.

The four time Olympic Gold medal performed as impressively in the second day as she did in the first. Trott started off impressively, coming second in the 500m-time trial and then finished second in the flying lap.

Coming into the last event Laura Trott was in a commanding position and needed to just stay out of trouble. While marking the attacks of second placed American Sarah Hammer and third place Belgium’s Jolien D’Hoore. The GB cyclist did exactly that and managed to continue to pick up points throughout to claim the gold medal.

This gold medal in the omnium adds to the gold she won on Saturday in the team pursuit. Also to the golds she won at the London 2012 Olympics in the same two events.