Andrews ends New Zealand’s Olympic track cycling gold drought

PARIS: World champion Ellesse Andrews made history on Thursday by clinching gold in the women’s keirin at the Olympics, marking the first track cycling gold for New Zealand in 20 years. The 24-year-old rider delivered a dominant performance, taking the lead early in the final and maintaining her position through the closing stretch. She successfully held off Britain’s emerging sprint star Emma Finucane and crossed the finish line in first place.

Finucane, who had already secured gold in the team sprint, couldn’t maintain her pace in the final moments and was overtaken by Dutch cyclist Hetty van de Wouw, who claimed the silver medal. Finucane settled for bronze.

This victory adds to Andrews’ impressive resume, which includes a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a world title she secured in Glasgow last year. The gold also doubles New Zealand’s tally of Olympic track cycling golds, with the only other one being Sarah Ulmer’s victory in the individual pursuit at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Reflecting on her achievement, Andrews said, “Tokyo was so special to me, and that silver was an amazing bonus at that time, and such a special moment to reflect back on. But to come here and to do one better is just something else.”(Reuters)