Paris Olympics 2024 Track Cycling: Individual Sprint Explained

on Day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Velodrome on August 16, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Individual Sprint event was introduced at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896. Initially, it was held sporadically in 1900 and 1908, but from 1920 onwards, it became a mainstay of men’s track competition. The women’s sprint debuted at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, marking the first track event for women in Olympic history.

This classic short-distance race begins with 200m time trials to establish brackets of qualified riders, followed by knockout heats where two riders compete over three laps to reach the finals.

Qualifying and Knockout Phases

The qualifying phase involves a flying start, where riders build up speed over two-and-a-half laps. The official time is recorded in the final 200 metres, indicated by a white line across the track. Riders can utilise the entire track, often staying high on the banking to use the descent for acceleration. The times determine the seeding of the 30 starters, with the fastest 24 riders progressing to the knockout rounds.

In these knockout phases, the competition narrows down to the top four riders who will contest for the three medals. Starting with the 1/32 phase, the number-one seed faces the number-24 seed, the number-two seed faces the number-23 seed, and so on. The winners advance, while the losers enter a โ€œrepechageโ€ round for another chance to reach the 1/16 round. These repechage heats feature three riders each, with only the winners advancing.

The 16 riders then move to the 1/8 phase, where the races become best-of-three until the field is reduced to eight for the quarter-finals and then to the final four. The two semi-final winners compete for gold and silver, while the semi-final losers race for bronze.

Men’s Individual Sprint Schedule

Women’s Individual Sprint Schedule

Race Dynamics

Despite the term ‘sprint’ implying high speeds, the race often involves tactical manoeuvres. Riders used to come to a complete standstill on the track, a move known as a โ€˜track standโ€™. The rules now permit this only twice. This tactic aims to lure the opponent to the front, enabling the second-placed rider to use drafting and slipstream to surge ahead at the finish line.

Chris Hoy Individual Sprint
Chris Hoy

Historical Achievements

France has been the dominant nation in the men’s world title, first contested in 1895 and only interrupted in 1939. The country has amassed 84 total medals, more than double that of the Netherlands and Italy, which have 37 each. Japan’s Koichi Nakano won 10 consecutive sprint crowns between 1977 and 1986. Daniel Morelon of France holds the record for the most Olympic medals in the men’s Individual Sprint, with fourโ€”two golds in 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich, one silver in 1976 Montreal, and one bronze in 1964 Tokyo.

For the women, Australia and Great Britain lead the Olympic medal tally in the Individual Sprint with four medals each. Anna Meares from Australia stands out, having won a bronze in 2004 Athens, silver in 2008 Beijing, and gold in 2012 London.

Men’s Winners

YearCityGold MedalistCountry
1896AthensPaul MassonFrance
1900ParisAlbert TaillandierFrance
1908LondonNot awarded
1920AntwerpMaurice PeetersNetherlands
1924ParisLucien MichardFrance
1928AmsterdamRoger BeaufrandFrance
1932Los AngelesJacobus van EgmondNetherlands
1936BerlinToni MerkensGermany
1948LondonMario GhellaItaly
1952HelsinkiEnzo SacchiItaly
1956MelbourneMichel RousseauFrance
1960RomeSante GaiardoniItaly
1964TokyoGiovanni PettenellaItaly
1968Mexico CityDaniel MorelonFrance
1972MunichDaniel MorelonFrance
1976MontrealAnton TkรกฤCzechoslovakia
1980MoscowLutz HeรŸlichEast Germany
1984Los AngelesMark GorskiUnited States
1988SeoulLutz HeรŸlichEast Germany
1992BarcelonaJens FiedlerGermany
1996AtlantaJens FiedlerGermany
2000SydneyMarty NothsteinUnited States
2004AthensRyan BayleyAustralia
2008BeijingChris HoyGreat Britain
2012LondonJason KennyGreat Britain
2016Rio de JaneiroJason KennyGreat Britain
2020TokyoHarrie LavreysenNetherlands

Summary Table

Number of WinsGold Medalists
3Daniel Morelon, Jason Kenny
2Jens Fiedler, Lutz HeรŸlich
1Paul Masson, Albert Taillandier, Maurice Peeters, Lucien Michard, Roger Beaufrand, Jacobus van Egmond, Toni Merkens, Mario Ghella, Enzo Sacchi, Michel Rousseau, Sante Gaiardoni, Giovanni Pettenella, Anton Tkรกฤ, Mark Gorski, Marty Nothstein, Ryan Bayley, Chris Hoy, Harrie Lavreysen
Kelsey Mitchell 2020 Tokyo Olympics Individual Sprint
Kelsey Mitchell

Women’s winners

YearCityGold MedalistCountry
1988SeoulErika SalumรคeSoviet Union
1992BarcelonaErika SalumรคeEstonia
1996AtlantaFelicia BallangerFrance
2000SydneyFelicia BallangerFrance
2004AthensLori-Ann MuenzerCanada
2008BeijingVictoria PendletonGreat Britain
2012LondonAnna MearesAustralia
2016Rio de JaneiroKristina VogelGermany
2020TokyoKelsey MitchellCanada

Summary Table

Number of WinsGold Medalists
2Erika Salumรคe, Felicia Ballanger
1Lori-Ann Muenzer, Victoria Pendleton, Anna Meares, Kristina Vogel, Kelsey Mitchell