A MINUTE WITH: JASON KENNY

• Thursday, 7 February 2008
• Cycling Weekly
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Former junior world sprint and keirin champion Jason Kenny is in British Cycling’s Olympic Academy, is a fan of big cats, and is as flatulent as the next man.

What was your first bike?
I’m not sure what my first bike was but I do remember when I was little my brother had a mountain bike with wheel covers on. I always wanted that because it looked like it had disc wheels. Eventually it was handed down to me and I took the front cover off so it looked more like a track bike.

So you were inspired by racing at an early age?
It must have seen it on the telly or something. What really got me inspired a bit later was seeing Jason Queally win the gold medal in the Sydney Olympics after I’d just started riding
the track.

Is that why you ended up specialising as a track sprinter?
I got onto the Talent Team and just kind of fell into what I was good at. I didn’t get up one day and decide I wanted to be a sprinter. I had a go at road and mountain biking but, unlike most people, I had started on the track and was pretty useless at everything else.

What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
I rode about 100 miles from Manchester Velodrome to Betws-y-Coed with a few of my mates when I was about 16. We were supposed to ride back the next day but all our kit was soaked through and we had to get a lift.

What would you change if you were prime minister?
I’d try to make the roads better for cyclists. Every time you go on the road you nearly get killed. In Manchester it’s a nightmare.

Do you worry about your carbon footprint?
A little bit; I ride in when I can. I don’t like using my car for short journeys but then I can’t afford to anyway. I’m not sure if it’s my carbon footprint or my wallet that stops me driving so much.

What do you do in your free time?
I’ve got a beast of a remote controlled car that I take down BMX tracks. The problem is I always break something and spend half the time fixing it. The other thing I do is play golf. It’s probably my favourite pastime but you’re on your feet a lot and that doesn’t sit well with training.

What’s your favourite enclosure at the zoo?
The only zoo animal I really remember from when I was little was a big cat like a cheetah or a tiger. I thought it was pretty cool the way it just strolled around looking mean.

Have you got any bad habits?
Yeah, loads. Just the usual: farting, burping, things like that. Anyone on the sprint squad will tell you that.

Who do you think should be the next England football manager?
Maybe they should bring in someone from another sport. In fact, they should give me a call. How hard can it be?

Where in the world would you most like to live?
Bolton — the home of champions! With cycling you go to all these places that are nice but after a few weeks I can’t wait to get home.