MITCHELL TAKES HOME FIRST INDIVIDUAL MEDAL IN WOMEN’S SPRINT AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Birmingham, UK (July 30, 2021) – In two very close rounds of the gold medal final in the women’s Sprint, Kelsey Mitchell wins her second silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. It was an incredibly close finish in the gold medal final at the Lee Valley VeloPark.
“Obviously came into today wanting to get that gold and definitely gave it my all and happy to walk away with a silver,” said Mitchell. “I love to race the best and that’s what happened today, I just came up a little short. Moving forward, I’m definitely focusing on World Championships but going to take the rest of my events at Commonwealth Games one day at a time, but World Champs are definitely on my mind. I’ve never been a World Champion so going to make sure to focus on these Games and then go back home and get back to training.”
After taking the silver in the Team Sprint on day one, Sarah Orban, Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell took on their first individual event. Orban’s pursuit for the podium ended in the quarterfinal after the English rider got to the line first in the best of three rounds with Genest being eliminated by New Zealand rider, Ellesse Andrews, losing her shot in a semifinal run. Andrews would ultimately move on to the gold medal round to face reigning Olympic Champion, Mitchell. After two incredibly close and tactical rounds, Andrews would secure the win with Mitchell taking home her second silver.
On the endurance side, athletes took on their first individual event of the Individual Pursuit. In a competitive and fast morning Canadian athletes missed the final rounds with Maggie Coles-Lyster as Canada’s women’s top finisher in the event coming in seventh spot and Michael Foley as the men’s top finisher in 13th.
Tomorrow, athletes take on the third day of racing with the women’s Points Race and Time Trial with the men racing Sprint and Scratch. Stream live on CBC Gem and follow live results here.
