Olympics: Australia break track cycling drought

PARIS – Australia ended a 20-year drought, capturing the Olympic men’s team pursuit cycling gold medal on Wednesday. Led by Sam Welsford, the Australian quartet shattered expectations to defeat fierce rivals Great Britain, with Italy claiming bronze.

The win marked a resurgence for the Australian team, who celebrated after repeatedly falling short in four straight editions of the Olympics. Their dominant performance overshadowed the world record-breaking feat of Dutch sprinter Harrie Lavreysen, who set a new benchmark in the men’s sprint. Lavreysen shattered the world record with a blistering time of 9.088 seconds, showcasing the extraordinary talent on display at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome.

The British men’s pursuit team, once a dominant force, struggled to regain their former glory following the retirement of key riders Bradley Wiggins and Ed Clancy. Despite a valiant effort, they finished second behind Australia.

Meanwhile, the United States women’s team pursuit squad, led by Paris road race champion Kristen Faulkner, clinched gold. Faulkner’s road race victory proved to be a precursor to her track cycling success, as she helped her teammates Jennifer Valente, Lily Williams, and Chloe Dygert secure the nation’s first Olympic title in the event.

(Source: AFP)