Finucane vows to bounce back after world championship bronze
Emma Finucane said she will keep pushing for gold after taking bronze in the keirin at the Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai. She also won silver in the team sprint and individual sprint, and finished just 14 thousandths of a second off first in the keirin. The British cyclist is targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and believes the team's depth will help.
Finucane, 23, earned keirin bronze in Shanghai on Sunday, finishing behind neutral competitor Alina Lysenko and Germany's Lea Friedrich. Her margin from first was 0.014 seconds. She also collected silver in the team sprint and individual sprint, events won by Chinese riders.
The British rider was part of the Paris 2024 team sprint champion trio with Katy Marchant and Sophie Capewell, and she took bronze in both individual sprint and keirin there. In Shanghai, Rhianna Parris-Smith filled Marchant's spot after her retirement; China's Jiang Yulu, Tong Mengqi and Yuan Liying won that team sprint. Britain led the overall medal table with 12 medals, as Anna Morris claimed three golds.
Finucane's near-miss and three medals may encourage young cyclists, particularly girls, to see elite track racing as attainable. Her focus on LA 2028 could keep British cycling in the public eye, potentially supporting grassroots clubs and sponsorship interest. The team's internal competition may also shape how fans and aspiring athletes view squad depth, though broader societal effects will depend on media coverage and access to facilities.