Dame Laura Kenny DBE is the most successful British female Olympian ever, winning five gold medals at three Olympic Games.
Laura shot to fame following her triumphs at the London 2012 Games, winning both the team pursuit and the omnium cycling events, at the age of 20. Four years later, at the Rio 2016 Games, she defended her titles and took home two more gold medals. Laura was a member of the Great Britain team that won 12 medals across the cycling events that year, including three golds by husband Jason Kenny. In 2020, Laura continued winning and at the Tokyo Games obtained a gold in Madison along with a silver in team pursuit. Laura was named Team GB flagbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Game Closing Ceremony.
Alongside her Olympic successes, Laura has won seven World Championships, a record ten European Championships and one Commonwealth Games title, taking her total to 29 medals. On the road, Laura has won the British National Road Race Championships and has ridden for the Matrix Fitness Pro Cycling team since 2015.
The official launch of the 2015 team took place at Staffordshire University, when Laura gave attendees a glimpse into her year ahead and an exclusive look at her custom-finished team track bike. The professional cycling team, sponsored by Trentham-based fitness equipment supplier Matrix Fitness, competes in road and track cycling events around the world. Matrix Fitness also supports Staffordshire University’s Team Staffs Sports Elite Scholarships.
Laura was awarded an OBE in the 2013 New Year Honours list, a CBE in the 2017 New Year Honours list, and with a damehood for her services to cycling after becoming the first British woman to win a gold medal at three consecutive Olympics games in the 2022 New Year Honours.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of Staffordshire University is bestowed upon Laura in recognition of her position as an inspirational sporting role model for young cyclists, her success as a world and European champion and becoming the first British woman to win five (four at the time) Olympic gold medals. The Award also acknowledges her local links through the Matrix Fitness Pro Cycling Team.