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Laura Trott reveals Jason Kenny snubbed her when they first met

The unassuming Mr Kenny wasn't very welcoming, it turns out. He blames being "bad at first impressions" for the snub...

Britain's golden couple didn't fall in love at first sight, Laura Kenny has revealed.

The most decorated British Olympic couple of all-time revealed that the early days of their relationship were wrought with social awkwardness in a joint interview on daytime talk show Loose Women last week.

Jason and Laura Kenny were on the show to discuss the release of their book, 'Laura Trott & Jason Kenny: The Inside Track,' which was released today. On this publicity tour the pair has also paid a visit to the Times Magazine, which also included a photo shoot from which Mrs Trott has been posting the photos to her social media pages.

Mrs Kenny - as she has decided to be known for every day purposes (but interestingly not marketing purposes) - told the show's panel that her husband was more interested in his cup of coffee than introducing himself to his future wife on her first day at British Cycling.

"I moved up to Manchester when I was 18 to be part of the Great Britain program," Laura Kenny said. "And everyone was really friendly. I walked in to the mechanics and everyone was like 'morning, morning' and because I was new I was just like 'oh okay, hi' but not really talking to anybody.

"Then Sir Chris comes up to you and says 'I'm sir Chris Hoy,' and you're like 'ah,' starstruck, because he's like a legend in our sport."

Then she moved on to describe how Jason was on that first day.

"And then Jason just sat there drinking a cup of coffee... nothing."

>Read more: Laura Trott & Jason Kenny's baby will be 'the best cyclist'

In Jason's defense, he is quite open about the fact that he's "just not very good at first impressions." Though, despite his other half's way with words, she did dig up the fact that her first impression of him was also quite underwhelming.

In the interview the four-time Olympic gold medalist said that the first time she learnt about her husband-to-be was in a magazine. Mrs Kenny said that she'd spotted Jason in a magazine follow-up from the Beijing Olympics which she said listed him at number six of the best "people of that year".

The Essex-born star then said that other than noting that he was the same age as she would go on to be at the London Olympics when he competed in Beijing, she "didn't think much of it."

 

Just going to clutter your feed with photos from this shoot...

A photo posted by Laura Kenny (@laura_trott31) on

 

It all worked out in the end, though. At the following world championships, Laura says that after losing her headphones she borrowed Jason's without telling him and proceeded to break them. 

Telling him about the headphones, Laura says, was the ice breaker that sparked their romance.

During the interview the pair also revealed that Olympic cyclists aren't allowed to hoover or stand up for too long; and that they've also got to be careful when taking the tube in case they don't get a seat. 

It's tough being a cyclist, eh?

You can watch the full interview below:

 

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49 comments

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surly_by_name replied to Beatnik69 | 8 years ago
2 likes
Beatnik69 wrote:

What do the female readers on here think of the way Jason looks in the photo?

 

I imagine (hope?) that they wonder why he's dressed like an overgrown schoolboy (what are those shorts?) or a Hollywood librarian. Also, he seems to get to change kit (from schoolboy to librarian) but she has to remain in the leotard with the implausible footwear. Maybe that's a useful working definition of mysogyny.

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the_broken_cyclist replied to Beatnik69 | 8 years ago
1 like
Beatnik69 wrote:

What do the female readers on here think of the way Jason looks in the photo?

 

As for Laura's outfit, I do think she looks great in it. I suppose it could be seen as sexist, but I've seen plenty of pop stars wearing similar or even more revealing outfits (Beyonce, Little Mix etc), so maybe the only person to determine whether it is or isn't sexist is Laura.

i'd like to see jason in a pait of Kylie hotpants and nipple tassles

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Natrix replied to the_broken_cyclist | 8 years ago
0 likes
the_broken_cyclist wrote:

i'd like to see jason in a pait of Kylie hotpants and nipple tassles

I could sell you some photos if you like enlightened

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lewiskinch | 8 years ago
9 likes

The reason the images are sexist is because Trott has been sexualized but Kenny has not. Kenny undoubtedly has a nice body which they have refrained from showing off, yet they have shown off Trotts, meaning the images portray women as objects and men not.

 

Had both/neither been sexualised then the images would not have reinforced gender stereotypes.

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Jimmy Ray Will | 8 years ago
2 likes

Ah, it is what it is... is it offensive? Not to me.

I think if I was either of the two, I'd be more disgruntled about the media only being iterested in them as a couple, rather than being objectied like this.

Lets be frank, sex sells, and alongside that, both men and women seem to enjoy looking at pictures of pretty women.

Yes, men and women's 'motives' are very different, but for me, the positive message is that Trott is being held up as an aspirational figure. Women want to be her, men want to be with her.... 

That can only be good for Trott and womens cycling in general. 

Does the medium used to create this aspiration really matter? 

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tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
8 likes

Looked at it and thought, fuck she looks hot. 

 

Didn't think anything else. So yes, probably is just a tired old bit of sexualisation considering I've seen her in lycra countless times without thinking the same.

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surly_by_name | 8 years ago
6 likes

I confess I'm a bit confused as to what the correct response should be here. Am I allowed think Laura Trott looks hot or should I be thinking "down with this kind of misogyny". And why?

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Yorkshire wallet replied to surly_by_name | 8 years ago
7 likes
surly_by_name wrote:

I confess I'm a bit confused as to what the correct response should be here. Am I allowed think Laura Trott looks hot or should I be thinking "down with this kind of misogyny". And why?

I don't think men should be beating themselves up for thinking that's an attractive woman. Women can't have it both ways IMO, this sort of photoshoot is obviously playing the sex sells card, otherwise why is she dressed like that?

Anyway, in an entirely sexist and mysogynistic fashion, she looks damn fine there.

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Jimnm replied to surly_by_name | 8 years ago
3 likes
surly_by_name wrote:

I confess I'm a bit confused as to what the correct response should be here. Am I allowed think Laura Trott looks hot or should I be thinking "down with this kind of misogyny". And why?

Tell you what, I wouldn't kick her out of bed, well fit hot chick  3 

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the_broken_cyclist replied to surly_by_name | 8 years ago
1 like
surly_by_name wrote:

I confess I'm a bit confused as to what the correct response should be here. Am I allowed think Laura Trott looks hot or should I be thinking "down with this kind of misogyny". And why?

 

It's not the thought of someone looking hot or not we all have those thoughts but it's how a man expresses that thought. Saying "I'd bang her" would be offensive. These are also media shots so as a woman commenting is okay. It's when people start to pass shitting comments, and we all know what they are, when she's doing her job as a cyclist that are more annoying

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psling | 8 years ago
1 like

Why is it sexist? Because the woman is the stoker whilst the man takes the controls?

If you are referring to their clothing and/or poses then the photo isn't sexist but perhaps some peoples' interpretation of it is. But that would be the attitude of the viewer rather than the person who posted the photo originally on Instagram? 

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bikebot replied to psling | 8 years ago
2 likes
psling wrote:

Why is it sexist? Because the woman is the stoker whilst the man takes the controls?

If you are referring to their clothing and/or poses then the photo isn't sexist but perhaps some peoples' interpretation of it is. But that would be the attitude of the viewer rather than the person who posted the photo originally on Instagram? 

Stop quoting the Internet.

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Gus T | 8 years ago
6 likes

If women cyclists want to be treat equally, they need to stop doing sexist photo's like this. It does no one any good. surprise

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DaveE128 replied to Gus T | 8 years ago
5 likes
Gus T wrote:

If women cyclists want to be treat equally, they need to stop doing sexist photo's like this. It does no one any good. surprise

I tandem sometimes with my wife and was really baffled by this photo. When you ride a tandem, you quickly realise that everyone (mostly non-cyclists) thinks it's funny to shout "she's not pedalling!" It's easy to tell how much effort the other person on a tandem is putting in (either way round) so my reaction is mostly rolling eyes with a grin!

Why would a couple who are both fantastic cyclists play to this ridiculous stereotype? It just doesn't make any sense to me...

I suppose you can interpret the image as a metaphor one of  two ways - either that he's her slave, or that she is a freeloader off his efforts. I think either is pretty offensive. I'm struggling to think of a more positive interpretation of the image.

And it doesn't do the image of tandeming any good either - tandeming is a highly enjoyable team activity that adds a completely new dimension to cycling in my experience.

Having said all that, it was probably the idea of the photographer, putting his prejudices into the image, and I imagine the two of them just saw it as a bit of daft fun.

Avatar
Jimnm replied to Gus T | 8 years ago
2 likes
Gus T wrote:

If women cyclists want to be treat equally, they need to stop doing sexist photo's like this. It does no one any good. surprise

you speak for yourself Gus T I love a bit tits and arse, it does me me good  3

Avatar
Gus T replied to Jimnm | 8 years ago
2 likes
Jimnm wrote:
Gus T wrote:

If women cyclists want to be treat equally, they need to stop doing sexist photo's like this. It does no one any good. surprise

you speak for yourself Gus T I love a bit tits and arse, it does me me good  3

And there's plenty of sites available for this  3

Personally I think LT is an attractive young lady but dressing up in a leotard and tight length high heel boots only creates an un-necessary sexual stereotype, personally I thought the nude VP photos were more artistic and less titilating than this photo. Beauty has many forms but presentation decides whether it's beauty for beauty's sake. TThis photo looks more like a 70's Playboy cover than a publicity shot.

 

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the_broken_cyclist replied to Gus T | 8 years ago
3 likes
Gus T wrote:

If women cyclists want to be treat equally, they need to stop doing sexist photo's like this. It does no one any good. surprise

Don't be an idiot, Ronaldo had a 30ft billboard with him in his pants that looked like speedos and he's a footballer, did you pose the same question of him, or of Beckham for that matter, he used to get his dad bod out a lot.

Now if you didn't then you're just as sexist as you suggest these photos to be. I would also suggest that perhaps instead of looking at a woman in a black body and tring to undermine her her sporting achievments you consider her stash of medals or can't you brain think of any else while it fakes indignation?

While we're on, if you want to go deaper into the social constructs we live with or how media likes to encourage male gazing then we can have that if you like. 
 

Avatar
richiewormiling | 8 years ago
1 like

yawn

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Leviathan | 8 years ago
1 like

Well we know who wears the pants in that relationship; oh wait....

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