Becky James

Welsh sprinter Becky James had big shoes to fill when she was selected for the World Championships in February, replacing retired British sprint queen Victoria Pendleton. However, the 21-year-old rising Abergavenny star stepped up to the mark with a devastating display of all-round sprinting ability in Minsk. James collected two gold and two bronze medals, to become the first British rider to win four medals at a single World Championships.

Bronze medals in the team sprint and 500m time trial kickstarted her medal collection, before victories in the sprint and the keirin followed for the Welsh wonder. It was her performance in the sprint which stood before the others however, as she came from behind to beat Germany’s powerhouse Kristina Vogel. Competing in her first ever World Championship final, defeat to the Olympic team sprint champion in the opening heat could easily have knocked her confidence but James showed superb mental fortitude and sprinting finesse to win the next two and seal her famous victory.