CYCLING – TRACK:  The Anna Meares Olympic legend grew even larger in Rio as she powered to the bronze medal in the women’s keirin.

Meares etched yet another chapter into the record books as she became the first Australian athlete to claim four individual medals at four Olympic Games.

“Tears of joy,” exclaimed Meares after powering to her maiden keirin medal in Olympic competition. "I always go in it to win it. I don’t like making up numbers. I have to execute perfectly to win it. But anyone who wins it has to.

The victory also elevates Meares to Australia’s most decorated Olympic cyclist with six medals including two gold, one silver and three bronze netted from her four Olympic campaigns which commenced in Athens in 2004.

And to continue the legend, she now stands as the only female track cyclist in history to have won Olympic medals in all four sprint events – keirin, sprint, team sprint and the 500m time trial (discontinued).

“My coach (Gary West) asked me earlier what were my goals for this meet and that’s two of the boxes checked right there: place better than I did in London in kierin and win a medal,” said Meares, who was pipped on the line by Becky James (GBR) as Ellis Ligtlee (NED) claimed a memorable win. "Have records ever driven me? No, just achieving, checking boxes, setting a goal, and trying to go after it and better myself every time.

"And believe me it’s really been hard and so challenging. Even in my own country I’ve had people come up and challenge me for positions in the team and I’ve had to work hard and earn my position and I’m proud that I’ve done that and I’m proud that I’ve come here again and delivered."

Earlier in the day, the three-time keirin world champion Meares moved straight into the second round after a comfortable top-two finish behind reigning world champion Kristina Vogel (GER) in heat one.

Needing just a top three result from the second round to move into the final, Meares reversed the result of the opening round after taking the win over Vogel.

In a superb final featuring three world champions in Meares, Vogel, and James, Ligtlee surprised all with the win as James just came over Meares in the dying metres to snag silver.

“I knew I had to be very patient and find my timing,” said Meares. “Unfortunately I ran into someone on the hill in the last bend which cost me a bit of time and my coach is going to give me one for having my elbows out at the home straight.

“My old BMX days were coming back and I was just fighting to get everything out.”

The three-time world champion and 2016 silver medallist, Meares was ecstatic with finding the podium at her fourth Olympics after finishing fifth in the final at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

"I feel like there’s been a really big shift in the competitive level from pre-London to pre-Rio," she explained. "One of the challenges I’ve had is getting in the gym and being strong to translate that into being able to ride big enough gears to be competitive with these girls on the track.

"I’m really proud of my team – of Gary, of my team at Cycling Australia – because they have done an amazing job to look at every avenue to keep me healthy, to keep my back in check and to keep me strong and in contention. It’s been really challenging both professionally in terms of managing that injury and privately as well.

"For everything that’s gone on, I am so pleased to be able to walk away with something."

"I was thinking about this on reflection down in the medal room waiting for the ceremony. A lot of people have asked me why I’m still here, why I’ve come back because I could have gone out on top of the sport in London.

"If I did that I would have missed out on my 11th World title, I would have missed out on breaking the World Record for the 500, I would have missed out on my sixth Olympic medal and I would have missed out on being the flag bearer for the Australia Team so I cannot look back on this cycle and ask for any changes because it has given me so much."

After teaming with Meares on Friday to finish just two-tenths of a second off the team sprint podium, Stephanie Morton lined up her individual Olympic event debut.

Morton was forced into the repechage round after finishing fifth in her heat behind 2013 world champion Rebecca James (GBR) and Hyejin Lee (KOR).

Her campaign sadly came to an end after she was narrowly edged into second place in her must-win four-rider repechage heat.

Meares and Morton will be back in action on day four of the track on Sunday from 4pm when the women’s sprint competition begins with the flying 200m qualification.

"I’m just going to enjoy this moment and then I’m stuck in the ice bath and the food and all that sort of stuff," said Meares.

"I’m super relieved. I’ll be quite honest, I’m really relieved. I feel like it’s a weight off my shoulders; I’m going into the sprint with a chance to have a free swing. I’ve been Olympic champion in the sprint before.

"I haven’t medalled in this event since the London Olympic Games – at World Cup, World Championships – my best position was fourth this year so I know I have a big task ahead of me but I also know I have good form and I showed that in the keirin that I can mix it with these girls. I’m looking forward to it."

Amy McCann
olympics.com.au