Olympic Champion Katy Marchant Collides with Crowd at London Velodrome

Katy Marchant, who secured team sprint gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was involved in an incident that led to the suspension of racing in the Track Champions League at Lee Valley VeloPark in London, after she and another rider crashed into the crowd. Marchant and German cyclist Alessa-Catriona Propster, along with their bicycles, exited the track at high speed, vaulting over the barrier and into a group of onlookers. According to British Cycling, event medics attended to the two riders and four supporters, and Marchant was transported to hospital. Confirmation later came that she had sustained a fracture to two bones in her right forearm and dislocated two fingers. A statement from British Cycling conveyed: “Katy is in good spirits and is being well cared for by her medical team. We wish her a full and speedy recovery.” This same venue witnessed a similar high-speed collision during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where England’s Matt Walls, along with his bike, was propelled over the barriers and into the crowd, involving several riders. A 1.4-metre barrier, installed this year at the London venue around the track, cost £250,000. The thirty-one-year-old Marchant, a gold medalist in the team sprint at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was participating in the second heat of the women’s keirin event. British Cycling further stated: “WBD Sports, British Cycling, Lee Valley VeloPark, and the Union Cycliste Internationale unanimously decided to suspend all further racing for the evening and want to extend their best wishes for a speedy recovery to both riders and all affected spectators.” The statement concluded: “We are working closely with all parties to review the incident before taking appropriate action.”