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Kenny beats Skinner to win his fifth career Olympic gold – video & report

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Kenny beats Skinner in Olympic final

Great Britain’s Jason Kenny won his fifth Olympic gold medal by beating compatriot Callum Skinner in the men’s sprint final at Rio 2016.

London 2012 champion Kenny came out on top in the first two races to win the best-of-three final.

Russia’s Denis Dmitriev beat Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer in the race for bronze.

Kenny, 28, has now won as many Olympic golds as rower Sir Steve Redgrave and fellow cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins.

Only Sir Chris Hoy, also a cyclist, has won more but Kenny can equal his mark when he races in the keirin on Tuesday.

“It is special, really special,” Kenny told BBC Sport.

“I’m really grateful, everyone works so hard for us. When we win it feels like the team is winning and we have everyone behind us, pushing us.”

“A Great Britain one-two is amazing,” said BBC pundit Hoy. “Jason had so much in the tank, he had phenomenal power.”

Victory takes Kenny’s gold tally in Rio to two after he and Scottish rider Skinner were part of the British team that won the men’s team sprint on Thursday.

As well as his individual sprint title from London 2012, Kenny also won team sprint four years ago and in Beijing in 2008. His solitary silver came in the individual sprint eight years ago, when he was beaten in the final by Hoy.

The Bolton cyclist’s success also continued Britain’s track cycling dominance in Rio. They have won four of the six events entered.

On the right track

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny<!–

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny got engaged in 2014

Kenny is engaged to Laura Trott, who became the first British woman to win three Olympic gold medals as Great Britain’s women retained their team pursuit title on Saturday.

Trott won gold in the team pursuit and omnium at London 2012 and will add a fourth if she defends her title in the latter event, which starts on Monday and concludes on Tuesday.

They could leave Rio having won a collective 10 gold medals since Beijing 2008.

After Kenny’s win, Trott tweeted: “Ohhhhh myy!!!!! Jason Kenny you are my superhero!! Two down one to go. Can he do the triple?”

Kenny’s medals

Reaction

British badminton player Chris Adcock: “Fifth Olympic GOLD medal. Unbelievable!!! Absolute Monster. And huge congrats to @CallumSkinner on an amazing Silver!”

British BMX cyclist Liam Phillips: “If only you could see the state of @JasonKenny107 & @CallumSkinner’s room… Deffo not Olympic standard!!! #Bombsite.”

British cyclist Dame Sarah Storey: “Great job by Jason Kenny & Callum Skinner. That was brilliant.”

Former Bolton striker Kevin Davies: “Well done to Bolton’s finest Jason Kenny, another gold to add to his collection!!”

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