Laura Kenny expects future track cycling stars to be born at Glasgow 2026; launchpad for next generation targeting LA28
Laura Kenny expects future Olympic track cycling stars to be born at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
Laura Kenny expects future Olympic stars to be born at Commonwealth Games 2026
The Team GB legend and Team England President tells Olympics.com why Glasgow 2026 can be a launchpad for the next generation of track cyclists targeting LA28.
The Commonwealth Games helped launch Laura Kenny ’s Olympic career.
Now the Team GB legend believes Glasgow 2026 could provide a springboard for the next generation of track cyclists targeting Los Angeles 2028 .
The now-retired Kenny made her senior international debut aged 18 at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
She finished seventh in the women’s individual pursuit and ninth in the women’s points race in India.
However, her performances were good enough to put the cyclist in contention for the Great Britain squad for her home Games at London 2012 , where she went on to win the first two of five Olympic gold medals .
Track cycling at Glasgow 2026 gets underway on Thursday (30 July) at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome , with British riders competing for their respective home nations.
And Kenny, who is now Team England President , believes stars will be born over the next four days in Scotland.
“The Commonwealth Games opens up opportunities,” the 34-year-old told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview.
“Because we are split into different teams, the amount of British riders that can ride in one race is massive, compared to an Olympics or World Championships. You get to see the best of the best from Great Britain race against each other.
“When you throw into the mix the Australians, the Canadians, the New Zealand lot, it just makes for brilliant racing.
“For a couple of people, it will be like my India (Delhi 2010). They’ll step out of the woodwork and, all of a sudden, they are at the forefront of everyone’s minds coming into an Olympic Games.”
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Laura Kenny on her role as Team England President
Kenny won the final medals of her career at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, claiming gold in the scratch race and bronze in the team pursuit.
She announced her retirement in March 2024, four months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and was appointed Team England President a year later.
As part of her largely ambassadorial role, Kenny has been interviewing athletes in the Glasgow 2026 mixed zone, including swimmer Adam Ramsay-Peaty and the England women’s gymnastics team.
“It’s certainly easier than competing, isn’t it?” laughed Kenny, whose husband Jason Kenny , the seven-time Olympic champion, is coaching the England cycling team.
“I have less knowledge on this side of the fence, but I can talk for England, so if that was a Commonwealth Games sport, I’d get gold every time!”
Speaking generally about the Commonwealth Games, Kenny added: “We call it the Friendly Games, and it is in a way.
“But for me, it is about the amount of people that can come and compete under the spotlight at a multi-sport Games.
“We always say sport is for everyone and it gets people together. The Commonwealth Games truly puts the crown on that.”
By David Coverdale Jo Gunston
23 July - 2 August
Commonwealth Games 2026 | Glasgow | United Kingdom