Jason Kenny in seventh heaven after keirin gold and hints he may keep pedalling

Jason Kenny began Sunday thinking he might be starting his final race but ended it as Britain’s most successful Olympian and wondering if there is more to come.

The difference came with a stunning keirin victory which gave Kenny his ninth Olympic medal and his seventh gold, both British records, 13 years after he won his first in Beijing.

Many arrived at the velodrome expecting to see Laura Kenny win what would have been her sixth Olympic title, but though a crash scuppered her chances in the omnium, Jason ensured there would be family celebrations – and a 12th gold medal for the clock they have been planning to make.

“Seven gold medals is really special, when you look back on the ones you have already got it seems pretty easy,” Kenny said. “Then when you try and get more, you remember how hard it is.

“Before today I had all but given up, I was counting my career in days and races as opposed to years, but maybe I have bought myself more time now.”

Izu is the home of Japan’s keirin school, but in all the countless sessions in this velodrome, it will rarely have seen once raced like this.With Kenny drawn to ride first in line, Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer looked more concerned by those behind him, constantly checking over his shoulder as a gap to Kenny grew.

It was already a few bike lengths before the derny even pulled off, with Kenny scarcely able to believe it himself. Within half a lap he committed to going long, and did not look back.

“I didn’t really feel like one of the favourites, I wouldn’t have been betting on myself personally. I think in that incidence you have got to be ready to take your chances. A massive chance came along.”

It was a chance that had increasingly looked like eluding Kenny as he struggled for form all week, helping Jack Carlin and Ryan Owens take team sprint silver but struggling individually.

Kenny had walked away from cycling after Rio, never announcing he had retired until he reversed the decision in late 2017.

It has proven a long road back to the top. Kenny admitted he has not been able to squat properly for more than a year, while he must still work out why his speed has been missing this week, having needed a repechage to get out of the first round of this competition.

But on Sunday afternoon at least, that did not matter.

“It is special to get a gold medal at the end of the day,” he said. “Just for keeping on turning up and racing hard.”

Though the two-time defending champion recovered to win the following tempo race, a surprise early exit from the elimination event effectively signalled her medal hopes were over.

“It was a mountain to climb from that point and to be honest the tempo race I just rode off adrenaline,” she said.

“By the time the elimination race came round I was done. I was sat in the chair and I was thinking: ‘I feel sick, my back is killing me’.”

“Is a bunch race specialist going to be a thing? I don’t know,” she said. “I didn’t enjoy the team pursuit as much as I used to but whether now we can rebuild it and start again… The thing is it’s just a different event now. You have to be good at four minutes.

“The reason I’m so good at the Madison is because I’m so good at the on and off, you get a rest. I think I’d have to reinvent myself and train for a pure four-minute event.”