Kenny becomes Team GB's most decorated Olympian of all time

Jason Kenny has become Team GB's most decorated Olympian of all time after winning his eighth medal with team sprint silver at the Izu Velodrome.

The four-time Olympian moves level with Sir Bradley Wiggins for the most Olympic medals while he and Sir Chris Hoy have the record for golds with six. 

Alongside Jack Carlin and Ryan Owens, Kenny came through qualifying and the first round to set up a mouth-watering clash with the Netherlands in the final. 

But in the end, it was the Dutch who proved too quick, extending a streak of wins that goes all the way back to 2017, to claim the gold medal, with GB taking home a valiant silver.

Kenny will go again in the individual sprint which begins with qualifying on Wednesday, while he will also compete in the Keirin as he chases a ninth Olympic medal and seventh gold.

Kenny, 33, from Bolton, said of his Olympic record: "It's really special. Every time you come back, it gets harder. You do your first Olympics and you're caught up in the momentum.

"It was really good. I think we poured our heart into the second ride to get to the final.

"We rolled the dice and just went for it, we knew we had a bit of ground to make up. I had nothing left in the final.

"I'm really happy with where we are, we'll give it everything in the next few days and see if we can get something out of that."

The silver medal came just 20 minutes after his wife Laura had won her fifth Olympic medal, also a silver, in the women’s team pursuit.

A pair of Olympic debutants joined Jason on the team sprint podium with Carlin and Owens helping to maintain Team GB's proud history in the event.

"We came for more but I think we can be proud of ourselves," said Paisley born Carlin, 24.

"We broke the Olympic record at one point, the Dutch again took it off us. We are happy, we just want more."

For Owens, meanwhile, this was his first shot at the Games having been a travelling reserve at Rio 2016.

"It's a dream come true. This team has got a pretty good track record, it's a lot to live up to year on year but we've given it absolutely everything," said Owens, 25, from Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire

"We can be so proud of this. It's been a different few months and to come through with these two guys is amazing.

"Rio was a great experience for me, I saw everything that goes on and took it all in.

"We were here to do the job, we got our best out on the day and gave it everything."