“I’m essentially obsessed with greatness in this sport,” Katie Archibald says. From many athletes this would seem insufferably self-indulgent, if fairly standard athlete-speak. From Archibald – a softly spoken, philosophically inclined Scot – it makes absolute sense. It also comes caveated with a wry smile as she decides, on a call with The Independent and other outlets, that she will actually say what she means. “I know you’re print media, so you know where you’re about to say a sentence and you can see it written down, but here we go…”
Everyone except Archibald herself would probably already say she has achieved greatness. To date the track cycling star has two Olympic golds, six world titles, and a record 20 European titles, to go with 12 national titles over the last 11 years. You get the sense from speaking to her that it is not enough, that further history, further records, are just around the corner.
