Tokyo 2020: Jason and Laura Kenny are Team GB's most successful male and female Olympians

Overall, the pair have won a total of 12 Olympic gold medals and three silvers. Credit: PA

Team GB's cyclists and married couple Jason and Laura Kenny added to their Olympic medal haul at Tokyo 2020, making them Britain's most successful sporting couple with seven and five respective gold medal wins. In remarkable scenes on the last day of the Games, Jason Kenny became the most decorated British Olympian ever after winning his seventh gold medal with victory in the men's keirin cycling final.

With nine Olympic medals now to his name, the spectacular achievement means Kenny overtakes the previous record of six golds set by fellow keirin specialist Chris Hoy.

Meanwhile, Laura, 29, holds the crown as Britain’s most successful female athlete, winning gold in the first ever Olympic women's cycling madison with teammate Katie Archibald on Friday.

Earlier in the week, Kenny and team-mates Archibald, Neah Evans and Josie Knight won silver in the women's team pursuit, following gold in both London and Rio, before her husband did likewise with Jack Carlin and Ryan Owens in the men's sprint.

Here's everything you need to know about the Kennys' cycling achievements.

Who is Jason Kenny?

At his fourth Olympics, Jason has surpassed Chris Hoy for the number of gold medals won by a Team GB athlete.

Kenny also has seven golds compared to the five held by Bradley Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France winner. He has two silvers to Wiggins' one.

Team GB's Jason Kenny celebrates after winning gold in the Men's Keirin Finals 1-6 at the Izu Velodrome. Credit: PA

After bagging a silver in the men' sprint and failing to medal in the individual, the 33-year-old said he had been contemplating the end of his career.

But after Sunday's victory, he appeared to change his mind: "Before today I had all but given up, I was counting my career in days and races as opposed to years, but maybe I have bought myself more time now."



The keirin, which originated from Japan, starts with riders being held by helpers and taking off from a standstill. However, the keirin uses a pacer on an electric motorbike to bring the pack of six or fewer opponents up to speed.

The riders remain in a line behind the pacer for three laps, being brought gradually up to 50kph. They must remain behind the pacer until it leaves the track - then all riders can use a combination of strategy, positioning and strength to be the first across the finish line after another three laps.

Jason also managed a team sprint gold in Beijing 13 years ago and also an individual silver, before adding two further golds at London 2012 and three at Rio 2016.

After marrying Laura in 2016, Jason became a father for the first time in 2017 before deciding to make a comeback to competitive cycling following the Rio Olympics.

Who is Laura Kenny?

Team GB's Laura Kenny claimed the fifth Olympic gold medal of her career after clinching the top spot at the women's cycling madison.

The 29-year-old became the first British woman to win gold at three consecutive Olympic Games as she and teammate Archibald, 27, claimed first place in the women's madison.

It meant she exceeded Dutchwoman Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel to become the most successful female cyclist in Olympic history.

Great Britain's Katie Archibald (left) and Laura Kenny celebrate with their gold medals after winning the Women's Madison Final. Credit: PA

Earlier in the week, Kenny was part of the quartet who took silver in the women's team pursuit.

Britain set a new world record in the women's heats, only for Germany to twice beat that mark in the remainder of the competition as they won the final in 4mins 04.242secs.

The event was the first time Laura had not won gold in any Olympic event.

A bad crash in the omnium on Sunday meant she finished sixth.

How many medals do the golden couple have?

Team GB's golden couple have a combined 15 medals between them.

Jason has seven gold and two silver and Laura has five golds and one silver.

In the September following the 2016 Rio Games, Laura and Jason married and took some time out from cycling, welcoming their son Albie in August 2017.