Hunt and Hodgkinson inspire Finucane's gold hunt - watch World Championships on BBC
Welsh cyclist Emma Finucane - born in the same year as Keely Hodgkinson and Amy Hunt - seeks glory at the Track World Championships.
Key points
- Emma Finucane, Keely Hodgkinson and Amy Hunt, all born in 2002, have won 17 Olympic, world and European titles.
- Finucane will compete in the team sprint, individual sprint and keirin at the World Championships in Shanghai from Wednesday to Sunday.
- Finucane's partner Matt Richardson was withdrawn from the British team amid reports he is under investigation for misconduct.
British cyclist Emma Finucane is aiming for gold at the World Track Championships in Shanghai, China, from Wednesday to Sunday. The 23-year-old will compete in the team sprint, individual sprint and keirin as part of a 19-strong British team. This is the first event to count towards qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Finucane, Keely Hodgkinson and Amy Hunt were all born in 2002 and have together won 17 Olympic, world and European titles. Finucane also won four Commonwealth golds for Wales this summer. She said she was inspired by Hodgkinson's 800m win at Athlos in a suit combining fashion, speed and science, and by Hunt's glamorous nails and historic European Athletics Championships golds.
Fashion, speed and science
Finucane said she feels empowered by getting her nails or hair done before racing. "Ultimately when I feel confident and unstoppable on the track, I feel like I can do anything," she told BBC Sport. She added that the psychological side of the sport is not often discussed.
She explained that speed comes from gym and track work at the Manchester velodrome, while science comes from British team investment in kit and bikes tested in wind tunnels. Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, she received a custom bike and helmet.
Ultimately when I feel confident and unstoppable on the track, I feel like I can do anything
— Emma Finucane
Setbacks and goals
Finucane is at her fifth World Championships and is desperate to regain the world champion's rainbow stripes after two silvers last year. She said she learned from last year's sprint competition, where she finished fifth or sixth and felt she had failed, but then took second in the keirin.
Her coach Scott Pollock told her the team either goes to win or to learn. "I don't fail. I win or learn something about myself," Finucane said. Earlier this year she and teammate Sophie Capewell visited the Los Angeles velodrome.
