Ellesse Andrews became the second New Zealander to claim Olympics gold at the track with a stunning effort to win the keirin final in Paris. Video / Supplied
World champion and now Olympic champion. Ellesse Andrews became the second New Zealander to claim Olympics gold at the track with a stunning effort to win the keirin final in Paris this morning.
Andrews powered home, taking the lead with two laps left and held strong to join Sarah Ulmer as an Olympic gold medallist at the velodrome. It’s Andrews’ third Olympic medal after taking silver in the keirin three years ago, along with the team sprint silver earlier in the week. She still has the women’s sprint event to come.
Hetty van de Wouw of Netherlands took the silver and Great Britain’s Emma Finucane the bronze.
Talking to Sky Sport alongside her coach and father Jon, she said it was still soaking in.
“It’s surreal. I tend to take a while to let things soak in. I’m very sore, very hot, very puffed.
Gold medallist Ellesse Andrews of New Zealand celebrates after the women's keirin final on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris. Photo / Getty Images
“I like to not get too overwhelmed or over-worked before the race. I was just thinking about the simple things and for me it was just another round of keirin. I just needed to qualify first this time, hopefully, and I managed to cross the line first.
“On a track like this it’s great to be number one at the bell. I remember seeing Finucane right on my hip coming into the bell and I knew I just needed to accelerate and keep going.”
It was a special moment for her father Jon who was able to witness the gold medal ride from the infield, though he missed the ending.
“I didn’t even see the finish,” Jon Andrews told Sky Sport.
”I saw her come around the bend and thought, there’s no way you’re being beaten from there. So I just turned and ran for the track.”
Ellesse Andrews said joining Ulmer, who won gold in the individual pursuit at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was a special honour.
“I feel like that’s pretty insane,” she told Sky Sport.
”Those are the kind of things that are so special. The kind of thing that will take a long time to process. Sarah Ulmer is an amazing bike rider and an amazing person. To be beside her is incredible.”
The 24-year-old was almost unbeatable throughout the event, with victories in the heats and the semifinals. The only time she didn’t cross the line first was in the quarter-finals when she was edged by German Lea Friedrich, who then failed to make the final.
Teammate Rebecca Petch advanced to the semifinals, featuring in the same race as Andrews but missed out on a spot in the final, eventually finishing 12th overall.
Andrews will have little time to celebrate. Women’s sprint qualifying starts tonight NZT with the final taking place Sunday night.
Hear it as it happens with live commentary of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on GOLD SPORT & iHeartRadio, plus comprehensive coverage on Newstalk ZB.
