Emma Finucane becomes first woman to win three medals for Team GB at a single Games in 60 years

Cycling Track 11 Aug 24

Emma Finucane made history by winning her third medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics as she soared to women's sprint bronze in the velodrome.

The 21-year-old beat the Netherland's Hetty van de Wouw in just two races to make it one gold and two bronze medals at her maiden Games in Paris 2024.

In a dominating performance at the French National Velodrome, Finucane became the first British woman to win three medals at a single Games since Mary Bignal-Rand in 1964.

Bignal-Rand took one of each colour at Tokyo 1964, in the women's long jump, pentathlon and 4x100m relay.

Finucane joined her in the history books after clinching women's team sprint gold in a new world record time on the opening day of competition, before backing up her performance with keirin and individual sprint bronzes.

"It feels amazing," she said. "I know I had the expectation on me coming into these Games but honestly, a gold and two bronzes is more than I could have expected.

“In the moment you don’t think about the history but I just hope I’m inspiring kids to get on their bikes and give it a go because it is really cool and I’d love more women to get involved and track sprinting is a really cool sport.

"I can’t believe I made history and I’m just going to enjoy it."

Finucane came into the women's sprint as the reigning world champion from Glasgow 2023.

Flying through the opening rounds of competition, the Welsh cyclist came up against eventual gold medallist Ellesse Andrews once more in the semi-final but came up short in two races to set up a fight for bronze.

And in just two smartly raced performances, Finucane stormed to bronze ahead of Van der Wouw to bring a glittering Paris 2024 to an end and start her celebrations in style.

"I haven't properly celebrated the team sprint or the keirin, so I get to celebrate all three and I'm just going to live my best life now after the Games," she added.

"I'm just so proud of myself and how I've conducted myself during the Games and a big thank you to everyone back home, I can't believe it."

Sportsbeat 2024

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