Track titan Katie Archibald calls time on glittering 13-year cycling career

Three-time Olympic medallist Katie Archibald MBE, has today announced her retirement from the Great Britain Cycling Team, calling time on an extraordinary career driven by a commitment to excellence on the world stage. 

One of Britain’s most decorated track cyclists, Archibald retires as a current world and European champion, as well as being part of the current women’s team pursuit world record-holding squad. 

A relative latecomer to the sport, Archibald initially took up cycling for the social aspect, competing in grass track, but her natural talent was obvious and she was soon spotted by the Great Britain Cycling Team, being invited onto the women’s track endurance squad in 2013, aged 19. 

After winning the European team pursuit title in her senior competitive debut alongside the star line-up of Dame Laura Kenny, Dani Rowe MBE and Elinor Barker MBE, Archibald established herself as one to watch. More accolades were quick to follow, as Archibald won six European titles and a silver medal, one world title and a silver medal and a Commonwealth bronze in the three-years leading up to her first Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. 

Over her 13-year career, Archibald has amassed an incredible 51 medals at world, European, Commonwealth and Olympic level, including two Olympic titles and a silver medal, Commonwealth gold, seven world titles and world-leading 21 European titles.  

Beyond chasing international success, Archibald has been a consistent presence in British National Championships, winning an impressive 12 senior titles on the track, as well as the national criterium championships on the road in 2017. 

As a firm fixture in the women’s track endurance squad, Archibald has been integral to many of British cycling’s defining moments; notably winning the first-ever women’s Madison title at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games alongside teammate and friend Laura Kenny.  

At the first multi-discipline cycling world championships at her home track in Glasgow in 2023, Archibald led the exceptional team pursuit line up of Elinor Barker MBE, Meg Barker, Josie Knight and Anna Morris to the world title. This was the first British team pursuit world title since 2014, which incidentally was Archibald’s first world title.  

A freak injury just weeks before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games took her out of the team, before she made a glorious comeback with the squad to retain the team pursuit title at that year’s world championships. 

Archibald has also seen fantastic success competing for her beloved home nation of Scotland at two Commonwealth Games, winning points race bronze at home in Glasgow in 2014 before adding points race silver and individual pursuit gold to her collection at 2018 Gold Coast. 

Beyond her performance achievements in the sport, throughout her career Katie has been an advocate for cycling’s benefits from grassroots and beyond, particularly for women and girls, and her openness about her personal and professional struggles has been recognised and valued by many, both inside and outside of cycling. 

On her time with the Great Britain Cycling Team, Katie Archibald said: 

“I love racing my bike. After 13 years competing on the international stage, and a lifetime competing against my big brother, I’ve decided to retire from the former.  

“Being part of the GBCT has meant being part of something bigger than myself, and it’s been a true honour to race my bike alongside the best in the country. 

“The things I’m grateful for across my career are that I’ve gotten to learn so much, see so much, and meet so many incredible people. But I also feel confident I’ll keep learning, I’ll keep seeing the world, I’ll keep meeting incredible people.  

“I’m not hoping for a grand legacy, but I hope I’ve made an impact on the individuals I’ve worked with. I suppose that’s the same ‘legacy’ we all have in our day-to-day lives, but it still feels valuable. They’ve all made an impact on me. “ 

Moving into life beyond her cycling career, Katie is currently training to be a nurse and has “fallen completely in love with the whole thing”, particularly because “it feels so special being someone people can trust when they need help.” 

Stephen Park CBE, Performance Director for the Great Britian Cycling Team said: 

“Katie has described herself as “obsessed” with the sport, and her relentless drive in the pursuit of excellence combined with a deep passion for track cycling has led her to be one of Britain’s most decorated track cyclists. 

“As she has progressed into one of the senior riders in the squad, Katie has been a leader by example whose performances on track and habits and characteristics off the bike set the tone for the rest of the team and elevate those around her. 

“Katie is also an incredibly generous member of the squad, having supported the development of many young riders who were initially inspired by her to take up the sport, and have been able to enjoy huge moments in their career as her teammate. 

“Katie has given cycling audiences some of the best moments of the sport’s history and we are incredibly proud of everything she has achieved both on and off the bike. She has built an incredible legacy and I know she will continue to be an advocate of the Great Britain Cycling Team, the sport and the joy of cycling for many years to come.”