Tokyo Olympics 2020: Scottish cyclist Jack Carlin adds bronze to his silver and now targets gold

Paisley cyclist Jack Carlin won Team GB’s second medal of the day in the velodrome and fifth of the track cycling programme at Tokyo 2020 as he battled to bronze in the men’s sprint.
Britain's Jack Carlin celebrates after winning Olympic bronze in the men's track cycling sprint at Izu Velodrome. Picture: AFP via Getty ImagesBritain's Jack Carlin celebrates after winning Olympic bronze in the men's track cycling sprint at Izu Velodrome. Picture: AFP via Getty Images
Britain's Jack Carlin celebrates after winning Olympic bronze in the men's track cycling sprint at Izu Velodrome. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

Carlin entered Friday with a shot at the gold medal but lost 2-0 in the semi-finals to Dutch world champion Harrie Lavreysen, who had already knocked out Jason Kenny in the quarter-finals.

That set up a best-of-three bronze medal contest against Denis Dmitriev of the Russian Olympic Committee.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 24-year-old Scot went early in the first heat but showed his power to hold off Dmitriev on the final lap before nip-and-tuck second race ended with him edging across the line less than a wheel length ahead of the ROC rider.

Paisley cyclist Jack Carlin celebrates his bronze medal success in the individual sprint during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Picture: AFP via Getty ImagesPaisley cyclist Jack Carlin celebrates his bronze medal success in the individual sprint during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Picture: AFP via Getty Images
Paisley cyclist Jack Carlin celebrates his bronze medal success in the individual sprint during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

It means Carlin, 24, is now a double Olympic medallist after being part of the men’s team sprint squad that took silver earlier in the Games.

He could still add another medal to his collection, with he and Jason Kenny both taking part in the keirin, which begins on Saturday.

Read More
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Katie Archibald and Laura Kenny win gold for Britain in fir...

“It was a tough day today, I didn't have the same in the legs as I did yesterday but I gave it my all and managed to come away with something,” said Carlin.

“I got 20th at the Worlds last year and I said to myself that I'd never be in that place again.

“We focused a lot on the individual event in this extra year and it paid off.”

Ahead of the keirin, and the chance to win gold, silver and bronze at Tokyo 2020, Carlin said: “What was it that Jonny Brownlee said? ‘Completed it mate’. We’ll see...”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription

Related topics: