Becky James wins Olympic Games keirin silver at Rio 2016
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 20/08/16 9:30pm
Britain’s Becky James claimed the first Olympic medal of her career by winning a last-gasp silver in the women’s keirin on Saturday.
The 24-year-old sat worryingly at the back of the six-rider field going into the last of the eight laps but then produced a brilliant acceleration and was only beaten to gold by the Netherlands' Elis Ligtlee by half the width of a wheel.
It was a remarkable result for James given that she returned to racing less than a year ago from a long-term knee injury and a cancer scare that together decimated her 2014 and 2015 seasons and almost ended her career.
James said: "It was a pretty frustrating race. I left it as late as I could.
"I didn't think I was going to get anywhere near round. I could have done with an extra couple of metres, but I'm absolutely thrilled with that medal.
"To think where I was a year ago from now to where I am now, I would never have imagined it."
James, who won the keirin world title 2013 before injury and illness derailed her career, qualified for the final by winning her first-round heat and then finishing second in the second round.
