Ellesse Andrews of New Zealand has triumphantly returned from injury, securing gold in the women’s keirin event at the Nations Cup track cycling meet held in Milton, Canada.
This victory comes as a significant milestone for Andrews, who had previously clinched a silver medal in the women’s sprint event on Sunday. Her success in the keirin mirrors her previous achievement at last year’s world championships in Glasgow, where she secured a gold medal.
The 24-year-old athlete’s remarkable performance marks her first major competition since suffering a collarbone injury during a fall at the opening Nations Cup event in Adelaide, Australia, earlier this year. Concerns were raised regarding her participation in the upcoming Paris Olympics following the injury, but Andrews has made a swift recovery and demonstrated her prowess in both events at Milton.
In the sprint event, Andrews qualified for the final but faced tough competition from Mathilde Gros of France, who emerged victorious in two consecutive races.
In the keirin final, Andrews showcased her strategic prowess, skillfully navigating the three-lap race. Positioned behind Dutch leader Hetty van de Wouw as they approached the final lap, Andrews unleashed her power, surging ahead to claim the top spot. Steffie van der Peet of the Netherlands secured second place, with Lauriane Genest of Canada finishing third.
Expressing her satisfaction with her performance, Andrews stated, “It’s a long way to travel but it’s better than going to Europe, so I’m super happy with the outcome.” She outlined her plans for the lead-up to the Olympics, including returning home for intensive training before heading to Europe in July and ultimately making her way to Paris for the games.
Andrews’ victory adds to her impressive track record, having previously become the first New Zealand rider to win an individual gold medal in a sprint discipline at a world championship. Her achievements include a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and three gold medals at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games last year.