Becky James
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Rebecca Angharad James (born 29 November 1991) is a Welsh former professional
racing cyclist Cycle sport is competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing cycling s ...
specialising in
track cycling Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using purpose-designed track bicycles. History Track cycling has been around since at least 1870. When track cycling was in its infancy, it ...
. James was the 2013 world sprint and
keirin – literally "racing cycle" – is a form of motor-paced cycle racing in which track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed-controlled start behind a motorized or non-motorized pacer. It was developed in Japan around 1948 for gambling ...
champion. She is a
2016 Rio Olympics ) , nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams) , athletes = 11,238 , events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines) , opening = 5 August 2016 , closing = 21 August 2016 , opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer , cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro de ...
double silver medalist. James rode for
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
and the
Great Britain Cycling Team British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation) is the main national governing body for cycle sport in Great Britain. It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It represents Bri ...
, and rode for the . First spotted by the Welsh Talent Team, she was a member of
British Cycling British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation) is the main national governing body for cycle sport in Great Britain. It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It represents Bri ...
's Olympic Podium Programme.


Early life

James was born in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. She is the daughter of David James and Christine Harris, and has an older sister,
Rachel Rachel () was a Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel. Rachel's father was Laban. Her older sister was Leah, Jacob's first wife. Her aun ...
, who is a racing cyclist, and also has two younger sisters; Ffion and Megan, and a brother, Gareth, who are all keen cyclists. Ffion is a member of the British national mountain bike squad. She attended King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny.


Career


Early career

James started her cycling career at the Abergavenny Road Club. In 2011, she stated that the toughest point in her career to date was just before the 2008 European Junior Championships, when she contracted
glandular fever In animals, a gland is a group of cells in an animal's body that synthesizes substances (such as hormones) for release into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland). Structure De ...
and was unable to compete. In July 2009, James won the gold medal in both the sprint and 500-metre time trial events and the silver in the keirin at the
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
. She followed this up in August by winning the keirin and sprint at the
UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships The UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships (named the UCI Juniors Track World Championships before 2016) are a set of world championship events for junior riders, for various disciplines and distances in track cycling and are regulated by t ...
, and a silver in the 500-metre time trial, as well as setting a new world record for the flying 200 metres. The framed Rainbow Jersey is kept at her home. Later in 2009, James won the ''Daily Telegraph''-Aviva Sport Matters Female Pupil of the Year award.


Professional career

In 2010, at the XIX Commonwealth Games James represented Wales and won the bronze medal in the 500m TT Track race and a silver medal in the Sprint Track race. She was nominated for the 2010 BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year, only to lose out to Gareth Bale. James was under contract from 2011 with the British professional cycling . She was selected for
British Cycling British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation) is the main national governing body for cycle sport in Great Britain. It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It represents Bri ...
's Olympic Development Programme, but was then fast tracked for the London 2012 Olympic Games. At the 2013 UCI Championships, James beat Germany's
Kristina Vogel Kristina Vogel (born 10 November 1990) is a former German track cyclist. During her career, she won two gold medals and a bronze at the Olympic Games, and is an eleven-time UCI World Champion. She was paralysed following a crash in June 2018. ...
2–1 in the final of the world sprint championship to win her first world gold medal. James was due to represent
Wales at the Commonwealth Games Wales is one of six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games since 1930, the others being Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand and Scotland. At the Commonwealth Games, Wales takes part as a separate entity, as in the Six Nations R ...
in Glasgow, 2014, but was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a ...
James won silver medals in both the
keirin – literally "racing cycle" – is a form of motor-paced cycle racing in which track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed-controlled start behind a motorized or non-motorized pacer. It was developed in Japan around 1948 for gambling ...
and the Sprint. In August 2017, James announced her retirement from cycling to set up a baking business.


Personal life

James enjoyed
horse riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...
, and competed in show jumping, but no longer participates due to the risks associated interfering with her cycling commitments. James stated for her pre-race rituals that she enjoys Electronic dance music whilst doing her roller warm up. She uses
Reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
and
Reggae fusion Reggae fusion is a genre of reggae that mixes reggae and/or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, jazz, funk, soul, disco, electronic and latin. Origin Although artists have been mixing reggae with other genres from as ...
whilst waiting. Her favourite place to ride her bike is Pollença, Mallorca. Her role models are
Sir Chris Hoy Sir Christopher Andrew Hoy MBE (born 23 March 1976) is a former track cyclist and Racing driver from Scotland who represented Great Britain at the Olympic and World Championships and Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. Hoy is eleven-times a w ...
and
Victoria Pendleton Victoria Louise Pendleton, (born 24 September 1980) is a British jockey and former track cyclist who specialised in the sprint, team sprint and keirin disciplines. She is a former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion. With two ...
. In June 2019, James married her long-term partner, the Welsh international rugby union player
George North George Philip North (born 13 April 1992) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship and the Wales national team. He has also represented the British & Irish Lions and currently has th ...
. On 5 May 2020 the couple announced the birth of their son Jac.


Palmarès

;2005 :3rd Omnium,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
– Under 14 ;2006 :1st 500m TT,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
– Under 16 ;2007 :1st 500m TT,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
– Junior :1st 500m TT,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
– Under 16 :1st Sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
– Under 16 :1st Scratch race,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
– Under 16 :2nd Sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
– Junior :3rd
British National Cyclo-cross Championships The British National Cyclo-cross Championships are held annually. The winners of each event are awarded with a symbolic white cycling jersey featuring blue and red stripes, which can be worn by the rider at other cyclo-cross events in the countr ...
– Junior ;2009 :1st Keirin, Junior Track World Championships :1st Sprint, Junior Track World Championships :2nd 500m TT, Junior Track World Championships :1st Sprint,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
:1st 500m TT,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
:2nd Keirin,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
:2nd Keirin,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:3rd Sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:3rd 500m TT,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
;2010 :1st Sprint,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
, U23 :2nd 500m TT,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
, U23 :2nd Team Sprint,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
, U23 (with Victoria Williamson) :3rd 500m TT,
Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exce ...
:2nd Sprint
Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exce ...
:2nd 500m TT,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:2nd Sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
;2011 :3rd Keirin, Round 3, UCI Track World Cup, Beijing :3rd Sprint, GP von Deutschland im Sprint :2nd 500m TT,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
, U23 :1st Keirin,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:1st Sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:2nd 500m TT,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
;2012 :2nd Team Sprint,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
, U23 :3rd Sprint,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
, U23 :3rd Keirin,
European Track Championships The European Track Cycling Championships are a set of elite level competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC ...
, U23 :1st Team Sprint, Round 1, UCI Track World Cup, Cali (with Jess Varnish) :2nd Sprint, Round 1, UCI Track World Cup, Cali :1st Team Sprint, Round 2, UCI Track World Cup, Glasgow (with Jess Varnish) :3rd Sprint, Round 2, UCI Track World Cup, Glasgow :1st Keirin,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:1st Sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:1st 500m TT,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:1st Team sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
(with
Rachel James Rachel Sarah James (born 1988) is a Welsh racing cyclist specializing in track cycling. James, from Abergavenny, Wales, is the daughter of David James and Christine Harris, and has a younger sister, Becky, who is a world champion racing cy ...
) ;2013 :
UCI Track World Championships The UCI Track Cycling World Championships are the set of world championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling. They are regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Before 1900, they were administered by the UCI ...
::1st Sprint ::1st Keirin ::3rd 500m time trial ::3rd Team sprint (with Victoria Williamson) : 1st 500 m time trial,
UCI Track Cycling World Ranking The UCI Track Cycling World Ranking is a track cycling ranking system based upon the results in all men's and women's UCI-sanctioned races over a twelve-month period. The ranking includes an individual and a nations ranking and includes the disci ...
:2nd Sprint, Revolution – Round 1, Manchester :3rd Team sprint, UEC European U23 Track Championships (with Victoria Williamson) ;2014 :Revolution ::1st Keirin – Round 4, Manchester ::3rd Sprint – Round 4, Manchester :
UCI Track World Championships The UCI Track Cycling World Championships are the set of world championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling. They are regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Before 1900, they were administered by the UCI ...
::3rd Team sprint (with
Jessica Varnish Jessica Varnish (born 19 November 1990) is a former British track cyclist. Varnish was part of the 2014 world record holding European Championships team sprint champions and is a multiple medalist at the World Championships. Biography Jessica Var ...
) ::3rd Keirin ;2015 :2nd Sprint,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:2nd Keirin,
British National Track Championships The British National Track Championships are held annually and organised by British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation). The main events are various track cycling disciplines for elite athletes to determine the British national cha ...
:3rd Keirin, Open des Nations sur Piste de Roubaix ;2016 :2nd Sprint, Dudenhofen :2nd Sprint, Öschelbronn :3rd Keirin, Oberhausen :2nd Keirin Olympic Games Rio De Janeiro, Brazil :2nd Sprint Olympic Games Rio De Janeiro, Brazil


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Becky 1991 births Living people Sportspeople from Abergavenny Welsh female cyclists Cyclists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Cyclists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Wales Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Wales UCI Track Cycling World Champions (women) Cyclists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic cyclists of Great Britain Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic medalists in cycling Commonwealth Games medallists in cycling Welsh Olympic medallists Welsh track cyclists Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games