It’s been a year of blood, sweat and gears for Yorkshire cyclist Katy Marchant but having been crowned European, Olympic and World champion, it’s one she won’t forget in a hurry.

To say that British champion track cyclist Katy Marchant has had a productive year on the track would be a slight understatement.

Having picked up a gold and silver at the European Championships earlier this year, the Yorkshire lass added another gold and bronze at the Olympics in Paris 2024 before finishing her year off with gold and two bronzes at the World Championships.

Not a bad haul for a woman who only returned to cycling 18 months ago after giving birth to her son in 2022 and who initially began her sporting life as a heptathlete.

SWPix

But it was cycling where success would ultimately come and alongside teammates Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane in the women’s team sprint, they not only picked up an Olympic gold but smashed the world record three times.

Looking back on her year, Katy, who lives on the family farm in Barwick-in-Elmet with her husband Robert and two-year-old Arthur, said: “It’s hard to take in what an incredible year it has been – I’m still riding that wave and don’t want it to stop!

“Victory in Paris was undoubtedly the absolute pinnacle of my career but I still felt we had more to give going into the World Championships and so to round off the year with another team gold was very satisfying.

“As a new mother there have been a lot of choices and sacrifices to make along the way and the hours spent away from home were hard.

“That’s been really difficult and something I struggle with a lot. Feeling the guilt of thinking my job now is to be a mum and I should be at home looking after Arthur rather than training was something I had to come to terms with but I think our success this year has made it all worthwhile.”

“The biggest thing for me was knowing Arthur was always there for me, no matter what. Seeing the world through his eyes gave me perspective and motivation. He kept me balanced and pushed me to keep going when times were tough.”

The images of Robert and Arthur trackside when Katy picked up gold were beamed around the world and Katy says having them there was so important.

The 31-year-old added: “Arthur was a bit overwhelmed – as we all were – but it was special to have him there because he’s such a huge part of my journey.”

“Thankfully the Olympics are really starting to change the narrative and support families. It’s helping us become role models for future mums in sport. The family-friendly facilities and accommodation in Paris made a world of difference and allowed me to stay connected with my son while focusing on my performance.”

Katy pictured left with Emma and Sophie / SWPix

Katy’s golden year started at the European Championships in Apeldoorn in January when she picked up a silver in the team sprint and a gold in the 500m time trial.

But it was in Paris where Katy, Sophie and Emma stepped up for their greatest glory.

The trio made history as Britain’s first women’s team sprint side to win Olympic gold – and are now the first British women’s squad to become sprint world champions since 2008.

She added: “It has been a very tough year, the competition is high and the standard is really good in the women’s sprint programme right now which means we have had to be at the very top of our game.”

For the farmer’s wife from Yorkshire it has been a year she’ll never forget and Katy hopes her story will be an inspiration to any woman trying to juggle a career with motherhood.

She said: “Follow your dreams. If you really want something, you can make it happen. Keep pushing when times get tough—resilience and persistence are so important.

“Motherhood doesn’t have to mean giving up on your passions; it can actually be the very thing that drives you to succeed. You can be a champion and a mum.”