Britain's most successful female Olympian Laura Kenny has revealed how a school careers adviser told her that cycling was not a 'proper job'.
The 32-year-old says she was advised against turning professional in the sport at the age of 16,despite having started to compete at an elite level.
Dame Laura has since gone on to win a total of six Olympic medals,five of which are gold, seven World Championships,a record ten European Championships and one Commonwealth Games title.
Speaking in the Big Issue magazine,the cyclist said: 'I remember we got sat down for a careers meeting in year 11.
'And they said to me,what do you want to do? And I said,I want to be a professional cyclist. And someone said to me,but that's not a proper job.
'But I thought 'hang on a minute' because I was already getting paid. It wasn't much but it was money and lots of other people weren't even on a path for that yet.'
The Kennys pictured at the Pride of Britain Awards in London in October 2022
Dame Laura won golds in the omnium and team pursuit at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. After giving birth to her first son Albie in 2017,she went on to win the madison with Katie Archibald at Tokyo 2020,as well as a silver in the team pursuit.
Paying tribute,British Cycling performance director Stephen Park said: 'Laura hangs up her wheels as not just one of the sport's greatest riders,but as one of the greatest sporting talents our country has ever produced.
'All who have had the pleasure of watching Laura compete will pay witness to her peerless combination of craft and determination,which propelled her to become Britain's most successful female Olympian and the first British woman to win gold medals at three consecutive Olympic Games.
'Just as impressive,however,is the impact which Laura has had on her fellow riders on the Great Britain Cycling Team and the next generation of Olympic hopefuls.
'She has been a beacon of inspiration for so many,young and old,and I'm sure that the entire British cycling community will join me in wishing her the very best in the next chapter of her life.
'From Welwyn Wheelers and our talent pathway to the very top of the sport,we're so proud of everything that she has achieved,and I'm sure she will continue to be one of our team's biggest supporters for many years to come.'
Team GBLaura Trott
