Australia’s pursuit team, comprised of Sam Welsford, Oliver Bleddyn, Conor Leahy, and Kelland O’Brien, dominated the competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, ultimately securing the gold medal in the men’s team pursuit. In a heart-stopping final, they edged out Great Britain, marking the first time in 20 years that Australia claimed victory in this event.
The race was a close affair, with both teams separated by less than two-tenths of a second over the 4,000-meter course. However, a crucial moment came at the finish when the British quartet of Daniel Bigham, Ethan Hayter, Charlie Tanfield, and Oliver Wood appeared to touch wheels, allowing Australia to pull ahead and solidify their lead.
The Australian team demonstrated their dominance throughout the competition. They stormed through qualifying, defeating Olympic champion Italy and snatching the world record with a time of 3:40.730. This impressive performance ensured their place in the finals.
Their opponents in the final, Great Britain, had also earned their place on the podium, showcasing their strength by defeating the reigning world champions from Denmark. In the race for bronze, Italy narrowly edged out Denmark after a strong finish.
The excitement continued in the women’s pursuit final, where the U.S. team faced off against New Zealand. The American quartet, led by Kristen Faulkner, Chloe Dygert, Lily Williams, and Jennifer Valente, aimed to break their Olympic medal curse. Despite holding two silver medals and a bronze from previous Games, they had never secured a gold in this event.
