Welsh track sprint specialist Becky James' rise on the international scene has been rapid. She first made her mark on the world of track cycling with a gold medal in the under-16s 500 metre time trial in the British track national championships in 2006.
It was a sign of things to come. In 2009, James took world and European titles along with a clutch of national golds, predominantly in her favoured sprint, 500m time trial and Keirin disciplines.
James put in a solid performance in the senior ranks at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, claiming silver in the sprint and bronze in 500m time trial for Wales. Her performance earned her a place on the shorlist for the 2010 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year award.
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James is widely tipped as one of the brightest young lights in the British track scene, and has taken up a regular position in the sprint disciplines after Victoria Pendleton's post-London 2012 retirement.
She took her first World Cup win, alongside Jess Varnish, in the team sprint at the Glasgow round of the Track World Cup in November 2012.
A breakthrough performance in the 2013 Track World Championships saw James take the world titles in the sprint and keirin events, as well as taking bronze in the team sprint (with Victoria Williamson) and 500 metre time trial. It marked the first time that a British rider had won four medals in a single Track World Championships and propelled James into the limelight.
Becky James results
2013
World champion; sprint
World champion; keirin
2012
Track World Cup, Glasgow; team sprint (with Jess Varnish)
2011
National champion, keirin
National champion, sprint
2010
European track championships, under-23, sprint
British national track championships, team sprint
2009
Junior track world championships, keirin
Junior track world championships, sprint
European track championships, under-23, keirin
European track championships, under-23, 500m time trial
2007
British track championships, under-16, 500m time trial
British track championships, under-16, keirin
British track championships, under-16, scratch race
2006
British track championships, under-16, 500m time trial
Becky James photos
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