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Tokyo 2020: Jason Kenny wins stunning keirin to become most decorated British Olympian with seventh gold

Gold medalist Jason Kenny of Great Britain. Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Jason Kenny won a spectacular gold in the men's keirin at Tokyo 2020 on Sunday to cement his spot as Great Britain's most successful Olympian of all time.

Kenny now has a remarkable nine Olympics medals to his name, having won seven golds and two silvers. His triumph in the velodrome saw him overtake the great Sir Chris Hoy's tally of six Olympic golds, and Sir Bradley Wiggins' eight medals.

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The ninth was a phenomenal effort, as he defended his keirin title in Japan. Kenny was aggressive in the keirin, leaping out ahead of the pack for the final three laps of the race to surprise his rivals. As he hammered away at the front, the chasing pack's attempt to haul him back were in vain as Kenny underlined his dominance in the event.

"Seven gold medals is really special, when you look back on the ones you have already got it seems pretty easy," Kenny said. "Then when you try and get more, you remember how hard it is."

This is Kenny's fourth Olympic Games, and he said in the build up to Tokyo 2020 he was unsure how he would fare. But the 33-year-old was at his dominant best with a silver in the team sprint and that astonishing gold in the keirin.

"I couldn't believe no-one came past, I felt like I was standing still at the end, I was hacking away into the final corner, but just kept telling myself it is a medal. I couldn't believe it when I crossed the line," Kenny added.

"Before today I had all but given up, I was counting my career in days and races as opposed to years, but maybe I have bought myself more time now.

"The first half a lap I was wondering if it [the gap] was enough and then I thought, 'it is now or never so I will go for it'.

"I have been racing every race like it is my last, just trying to survive really. I think because I ran every race like it was a final. When I got to the final I was pretty well rehearsed."

Kenny won three team sprint golds at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, and took silver in that event at Tokyo 2020. He also has sprint golds from London 2012 and Rio 2016, and a silver from Beijing 2008, alongside two remarkable golds in the keirin from Rio 2016 and Tokyo.

Kenny's nine medals sees him lead the overall Great Britain's standings by one overall with Wiggins on eight, and Hoy on seven. Laura Kenny is level on six with Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Ben Ainslie is on five.

Laura Kenny finished in sixth in the women's omnium on Sunday after crashing in the first event, denying her a seventh Olympic medal.

However, she was given the honour of being Team GB's flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony after becoming Britain's most successful female Olympian following her stunning madison victory on Friday.

"It's an absolute honour to be selected as the Team GB flagbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony, and it rounds off my Games experience," Kenny said.

"The past 18 months have been tough for everyone, and I really hope me and my Team GB teammates have given the nation something to celebrate.

"It hasn't quite sunk in that I am now Britain's most successful female athlete, all I know is that I've worked so hard to be here and I couldn't have done it without the support of my family, friends and everyone at British Cycling."

Jason Kenny will take some time to decide whether he'll target further dominance at Paris 2024.

When asked if he was going to continue cycling, he said: "Before today, I'd all but given up to be honest! I was counting my career in days and races, rather than years. Maybe I've bought myself a bit more time now.