Flying Dutchman Lavreysen clinches Olympic keirin gold, completes remarkable hat-trick

PARIS: Harrie Lavreysen, known as the “Flying Dutchman,” solidified his status as the undisputed king of men’s sprinting by winning the Olympic keirin on Sunday at the National Velodrome. The 27-year-old Dutch powerhouse executed a masterful final lap to outpace Australia’s Matthew Richardson, who secured the silver medal. Lavreysen’s victory in the keirin adds to his triumphs in the team sprint and sprint earlier in the week, completing an extraordinary hat-trick that mirrors his performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where he claimed bronze in the keirin.

Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer rounded out the podium, finishing third. The race finale, however, was marred by a high-speed crash involving Malaysia’s Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Japan’s Shinji Nakano, and Britain’s Jack Carlin. All three riders were sent tumbling across the track, with Sahrom sliding over the finish line but later being relegated for causing the accident. Despite the dramatic incident, all three athletes were able to walk away after receiving medical treatment.

In the women’s events, New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews dominated the competition, capping off an incredible week by winning the sprint gold.