Anna Meares settles for bronze in keirin final behind Dutch rider Elis Ligtlee and Brit Becky James
A TEARY Anna Meares has added yet another chapter of history to her stunning track cycling career with a bronze medal in the keirin in Rio.
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ANNA Meares has added yet another chapter of history to her stunning track cycling career with a bronze medal in the keirin in Rio.
Meares said she was crying “tears of joy” after the race when she finished third behind Dutch rider Elis Ligtlee and Great Britain’s Becky James.
Until now the 32-year-old had kept her two goals for Rio private but after the keirin she said she had now achieved both, with the individual sprint event - of which she is reigning Olympic champion - still to come on Monday (EST).
“Those were my two boxes ticked right there - place better than I did in the keirin in London and win a medal,” Meares said.
“I was thinking about this down in the medal room waiting for the ceremony - a lot of people have asked me why I’m still here and I could have gone out on top in London.
“But if I did that I would have missed out on my 11th world title, breaking the world record for the 500m, I would have missed out on my sixth Olympic medal and would have missed out on being captain and flagbearer for the Australian team.
“So I cannot look back on this cycle and ask for any changes because it has given me so much.”
It was Meares’ sixth Olympic medal to go with her two gold, one silver and two bronze she has now won across four Games, making her Australia’s most decorated cyclist male or female in Games history.
She is also the first female track cyclist to medal in all four Olympic sprint events and Australia’s first athlete to win an individual medal in four separate Games in a career spanning 22 years.
“I feel like there’s been a big shift in the competitive level from pre-London to pre-Rio, one of the challenges I’ve had is getting in the gym and being strong to translate that to being capable of pushing bigger gears to be competitive with these girls on the track,” she said.
“I’m really proud of (coach) Gary West and my team at Cycling Australia HPU in Adelaide because they have really done an amazing job to look at every avenue to keep me healthy, keep my back in check and strong and in contention.
“But everything that’s gone on - I’m so pleased to be able to walk away with something.”
Meares will now start preparing for the individual sprint which begins with qualifying on Monday (EST).
“I’m just going to enjoy this moment and then I’m stuck in the ice bath and all that stuff,” she said.
“I haven’t medalled in this event since the London Olympics, in world cups or world championships, so I know I have a big task ahead of me but I also know I’ve got good form and can mix it with these girls.”
WOMEN’S TEAM PURSUIT
Australia’s brave women team pursuiters capped a drama-filled campaign by winning the race for fifth against Italy.
Injured star Mel Hoskins, who could barely walk but managed to ride the two previous rounds with a bruised hip, was subbed out for Ashlee Ankudinoff who got to ride in her Olympic debut.
Ankudinoff joined Amy Cure, Annette Edmondson and Georgia Baker in riding a respectable 4:21 against Italy given the circumstances, as Great Britain broke the world record in 4:10 to beat the US in the final.
Hoskins was visibly upset after the race as she spoke of her disappointment at not being able to give more as she battled injury from a serious training crash.
“I’m in a fair amount of pain and I wanted more for the girls than what I could give,” Hoskins said.
“It’s hard, Ash and I are both hurting and sore. It’s not what we wanted and I left here this morning wanting so much more for them because of all the time and effort they’ve put in.
“It’s not all one person’s fault and if I could give them more I would, but I had nothing.
“I really hope in four years in Tokyo they have more luck because they’re a fabulous bunch of girls and deserve all the gold in the world.”
Tasmanian debutant Baker said the goal was to win gold but they could be proud of their efforts.
“We’ve had some really unfortunate events that have happened in the last week but I think we should all be really proud, it just shows how tough me and my teammates are,” Baker said.
“Mel was on crutches the day before we raced so just to go out there and ride shows how strong we are and definitely look out the next four years.”
Ankudinoff has been battling bruised ribs and sternum and an AC joint injury after the crash but bravely climbed on the bike to ride the last round.
“It was tough but I was ecstatic to get the call up, despite Mel being injured, that’s not the way you want to be subbed in but I’m thrilled to have a ride here,” she said.
“We wanted to finish on a high as much as we could, we’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster this week and are just happy to be here.”
MEN’S SPRINT
Matthew Glaetzer will race for bronze against Russian Denis Dmitriev on Monday (EST) after he lost his semi-final to Callum Skinner.
Glaetzer’s teammate Pat Constable was eliminated by Jason Kenny who is the hot favourite to win gold when he meets his British teammate in the final.
Originally published as Anna Meares settles for bronze in keirin final behind Dutch rider Elis Ligtlee and Brit Becky James
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