Bryony Botha added to New Zealand’s proud tradition in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit with a sensational gold medal performance in London’s Lee Valley VeloPark.
Sarah Ulmer and Alison Shanks were two all-time great cyclists who made the individual pursuit their own. Botha’s gobsmacking Commonwealth Games ride has elevated her to that very top tier.
New Zealand tracking cycling has been enjoying a bonanza at these Commonwealth Games, but even amid all that excitement, Botha left cycling fans shaking their heads in wonder.
Having ridden 3min 19.836 to qualify for the final, beating the Games record by a whopping four seconds, Botha wondered what she might have left in the tank for the gold medal ride against Australian Maeve Plouffe.
But whereas the trend has been that riders have struggled to match their morning times, Botha sizzled around the track in 3min 18.458. She beat the talented Australian by 8.6 seconds and was within a few centimetres of lapping her – incredible against a world-class rider in such a major race.
It was a sensational display of power, grit and technique.
Botha admitted she was surprised when she saw the time. “I was not expecting to see an ‘18’ on the board, that’s for sure. I wondered whether I’d left it all on the track this morning, but when I got out there before the final I felt awesome. I’m just so happy with the result.”
The 24-year-old Aucklander is a superb rider who excels in several events, but she said her favourite by far is the individual pursuit. “That’s what makes this so special.”