I've had a blast, says Olympic legend Kenny as she quits cycling

DAME LAURA KENNY today announced her retirement from cycling with immediate effect after a career in which she won five Olympic gold medals and seven World Championship titles.

- Matt Majendie

The 31-year-old, who gave birth to a second child in July, had been attempting to make the British team for what would have been her fourth Olympic Games, in Paris.

British Cycling boss Stephen Park had this month said her hopes of making the Games were slim, with insufficient qualifying points.

And with one potential qualification event remaining, Kenny this morning she announced she was calling time on a career in which she became the most decorated British female in Olympic history.

While already a three-time world champion on the track, Kenny burst into the public consciousness at London 2012 by winning both the team pursuit and the omnium at her home games.

She garnered even more public attention when she was photographed celebrating at the Games with fellow cyclist and then new boyfriend Jason Kenny, now her husband.

She successfully defended both titles four years later in Rio and then won gold and silver at the delayed Tokyo Olympics.