ARTHUR MARCHANT might only be 14 months old but already he has established an important role at British Cycling for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
His mum Katy, one of Britain’s leading riders and a medal contender next summer, joked: “He’s the unofficial team mascot. Everyone here absolutely loves him.
“Arthur came on our recent training camp and spent a lot of time at the track. When he saw the bikes go past, he started to clap.
“I think he’s aware to some degree of what I do. Like every time he sees a bike, he now says: ‘Mama.’”
As any parent would appreciate, Marchant faced a task to get Arthur to stay still for SunSport’s photoshoot launch to promote her inclusion in our SEINE-sational Seven Series for the next Olympics.
She said: “It was quite hard to make a one-year-old cooperate. But I think he did alright. Everyone was jumping up and down, singing and dancing. It was entertaining.”
READ MORE ON OLYMPICS
Arthur was born on June 8, 2022 – less than a year after his mum, 30, had crashed out of the Covid-affected Tokyo Olympics in the Keirin quarter-finals and placed sixth in the women’s sprint.
It was on the flight home that a regretful Marchant – an Olympic bronze medallist from the Rio 2016 Games – felt she had “real unfinished business” within the sport.
It is why, thanks to the support of the National Lottery, she has decided to combine parenting with pedalling for one more shot at the Olympics.
Marchant said: “I just didn’t feel ready to give up. But I also didn’t want to completely put my life hold.
Most read in Athletics
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“My husband Rob and I got married in September 2021, four weeks after the Games. Then we found out I was pregnant.
“The timing was perfect. I just thought this is the challenge that I need.
“It was a year of carnage. We have two puppies as well. We were renovating a house. It was all systems go. But it was so worth it.”
This weekend she will wear GB colours at major level for the first time since giving birth 14 months ago.
Leeds-born Marchant rides the Keirin at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow and is a reserve for the women’s team sprint.
This is the last big event before the Paris programme begins and Marchant knows she has to deliver – selectors will not pick her on sentimental grounds.
Training-wise, her numbers in training have been as impressive as ever, particularly her first-ever 100kg power-clean lift achieved in May.
Her old heptathlon training partner, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, has been around in recent months to give advice about motherhood and elite sport.
Mum-of-two Ennis-Hill, 37, famously won the world heptathlon title in Beijing in 2015 – and then Olympic silver in 2016 – not long after the birth of son Reggie.
Marchant said: “It was nice to have the guidance of those people who’ve done it before me.
“I literally trained right before having Arthur. I was in the gym the week before. I was on the (static) bike the day before.
“I’m used to being in pain. My body is used to being tired.
“Around this time, I was like: ‘Should I be tired? Am I doing damage? Am I doing too much? How much should I push it?’
“But Jess said to me, just listen to your body. If it feels like you can do it, then you should be doing it. And I’ve ridden that wave pretty much all the way through.
“Ten years ago, when I first started cycling, I never for a second thought I’d have a family and continue my career.
“You shouldn’t have to put family on hold for your career and vice versa. I’m a big believer you can do both.
“I do hope people see my story and think actually it is possible.
“At times I feel guilty that I’m away racing. I feel I should be at home. I’m just riding around in circles on a bike after all.
Read More on The Sun
“But I’m in a really lucky position to be able to get named in the team so soon after having Arthur.
“I’m only here because I believe my performances can be better and good enough to get on that Paris team.”
*National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport — from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk #MakeAmazingHappen #ThanksToYou
Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
