Rebecca Angharad James (born 29 November 1991) is a Welsh former professional racing cyclist specialising in track cycling. James was the 2013 world sprint and keirin champion.[4] She is a 2016 Rio Olympics double silver medalist.
James was born in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. She is the daughter of David James and Christine Harris,[6] and has an older sister, Rachel, who is a racing cyclist,[7] and also has two younger sisters; Ffion and Megan, and a brother, Gareth, who are all keen cyclists. Ffion is a member of the British national mountain bike squad.[8] She attended King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny.[9]
Career
Early career
James started her cycling career at the Abergavenny Road Club.[10]
In July 2009, James won the gold medal in both the sprint and 500-metre time trial events and the silver in the keirin at the European Track Championships.[12] She followed this up in August by winning the keirin and sprint at the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships, and a silver in the 500-metre time trial, as well as setting a new world record for the flying 200 metres. The framed Rainbow Jersey is kept at her home.[11]
Later in 2009, James won the Daily Telegraph-Aviva Sport Matters Female Pupil of the Year award.[9][13]
James was under contract from 2011 with the British professional cycling Velosure–Giordana. She was selected for British Cycling's Olympic Development Programme, but was then fast-tracked for the London 2012 Olympic Games.[15]
At the 2013 UCI Championships, James beat Germany's Kristina Vogel 2–1 in the final of the world sprint championship to win her first world gold medal.[4]
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