Laura Kenny retires from cycling as Britain’s most successful female Olympic athlete with 5 golds

Laura Kenny, Britain's most successful female Olympic cyclist, retires to prioritize family after winning five gold medals.

Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female Olympic athlete, announced her retirement from cycling on Monday because she wants to spend more time at home with her family.

The 31-year-old Kenny has won five Olympic gold medals and had been expected to compete at the Paris Games in July.

She gave birth to her second child last year and told the BBC on Monday that being at home was proving more and more alluring to her.

“It’s been in my head a little while, the sacrifices of leaving the children and your family at home is really quite big and it really is a big decision to make,” Kenny said. “More and more, I was struggling to do that. More people asking me what races was I doing, what training camps was I going on — I didn’t want to go ultimately and that’s what it came down to."

Her husband, Jason Kenny, is also a cyclist and Britain’s most decorated Olympian.

“I knew the minute I was getting those feelings. Once I said to Jase, ‘I don’t think I want to ride a bike anymore,' I started to feel relief,” she said.