Meares ends cycling title defence

“I can’t believe it happened”, James said.

Becky James has won the silver medal in the Keirin, just minutes after Team GB had won the Women’s Team Pursuit.

A tearful Anna Meares has ended her Olympic title defence and possibly her decorated cycling career.

Australia’s 49er sailors Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen have put themselves back into medal contention, climbing to third overall after three good races on Monday. Her elder sister Rachel is a tandem pilot rider in Britain’s para-cycling squad, her younger sister Ffion is a mountain bike rider on the development programme and Megan, another younger sister, was crowned British junior cross-country champion in 2014.

James did not have cervical cancer but, if left alone, those abnormal cells could have developed into something much more serious. While the medals won’t be decided today, we’ll definitely know more of our favourite cyclist’s form after this morning’s session.

“The perfectionist in me and the elite athlete that I’ve been for so long just finds it really hard to comprehend that result but at the same time I’m very proud because I knew that was going to be tough”, Meares said.

Former world champion Dani Samuels will also be hurling her first discus of the Games when the qualifying rounds start at 9:30am.

Despite going through what she describes as her “deepest darkest time” she refused to give up on her Olympic dream.

She was last with one lap to go but found a way around the outside to force her way into second on the line to win Britain’s fourth medal on the track.

“I’ve got to ask myself what I want, where I want to go”.

Dutch ace Elis Ligtlee raced to Olympic gold as James made a late move to get herself on the podium. With racing paused for five hours, Meares walked onto the track to find consoling arms of loved ones who had travelled to support her from the stands.

The 32-year-old cycling legend achieved her two goals for these Games with bronze in the keirin. “I am so happy”, she said.

“There is no one who will criticise me more than me”.

James has another opportunity in the sprint, which begins on Sunday and concludes on Tuesday.