Sophie Capewell, from Lichfield, was part of the team that took home gold for the women’s track cycling team sprint yesterday (6 August) at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The team – which also included Katy Marchant and Emma Finucane – broke the world record and achieved a time of 45.186 seconds. In total, the team broke the world record three times during the sprint.
This marked the first time that Britain had won any colour during the women’s team sprint.
The team narrowly beat New Zealand who took home silver having completed the race in 45.659 seconds. Germany took home bronze.
Capewell (25) now has her eyes set on the individual sprint category. The team sprint marked Capewell’s first-ever Olympic Games victory. She is considered one of the world’s top sprint cyclists.
Victoria Wilson, who is a Cabinet Member for Communities at Staffordshire County Council, stated: “It’s brilliant to see yet another Staffordshire Olympian on the podium, but this time winning gold.”
She continued: “Sophie and her teammates fought a brave race to beat off the New Zealand team in a thrilling final.”
Team GB have a bad track record with the team sprint category. They failed to qualify for both the Tokyo and the Rio Olympic Games. During London 2012, athletes Jess Varnish and Victoria Pendleton were disqualified from the competition.
Elsewhere in Staffordshire Olympian news, Adam Peaty from Uttoxeter took home silver during the 100m breaststroke.
Experienced writer and journalist James McKean leads the daily editorial output at StaffsLive. To contact him, email news@staffslive.co.uk
