Joanna Rowsell admits she’s already got her eyes on Rio 2016 after claiming gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Rowsell secured England’s first gold medal on the track at Glasgow 2014 in the 3km individual pursuit in a time of 3:31.615 minutes to add to her maiden world title in February.
However the 25-year-old – who already has four world team pursuit titles to her name – says that the Olympics in Brazil isn’t too far from her mind.
The women’s 3km individual pursuit is not an Olympic event and Rowsell, London 2012 champion in the team pursuit, said: “I’m really looking forward to Rio, it will be the team pursuit and not the individual pursuit.
“The team pursuit is a brilliant event, the rest of the world has come on a long way and they will really push us like they did at the worlds in February.
“We have a really good squad now, across all the home nations.”
Rowsell set a Games record of 3:29.038 in qualifying and beat Australian Annette Edmondson by 3.835 seconds in the gold medal race.
And after missing out on the chance to medal at Delhi four years ago because of glandular fever, Rowsell was extra determined to secure England’s maiden medal at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
“I won the world title on the back of just team pursuit training, so it’s very nice to actually come here and train for the individuals and do some specific work for it – and I’m very glad it’s paid off,” she added.
“The Commonwealth Games only comes around every four years so for me this is the Olympics for this event, because this isn’t in the Olympics, so I’m really pleased.
“I’ve had a full taper for this event, this is the biggest event of the summer for me. We had the worlds in February which was a big goal, then I had a break and after March it’s been about this.
“I’m really glad I’ve peaked at the right time, I’m a bit of a master of it, I always do it on the right day each year.
“When I first started people always doubted me, and I’ve always been out to prove them wrong and prove myself, I’ve kept plugging away over the years and it’s going OK.”