Katy Marchant returns to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow aiming to complete the set with the one major title missing from her glittering career.
Fresh from a 15-month break to give birth to her second child, the 33-year-old is back to fill the only gap in her trophy cabinet. Marchant first returned from maternity leave in 2023, and within the year clinched European Track Championship glory in the 500m time trial, before winning a momentous gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games in the team sprint.
The Leeds star repeated the trick at the World Championships in Ballerup two months later to complete her annus mirabilis, but a Commonwealth Games gold still eludes her.
She said: “I’m feeling super excited. It’s been eight years since I represented England at a Commonwealth Games so I’m really happy to be back. I’m expecting something special. They always put on a really good show. It’s really special to be able to represent Team England. It’s the closest the Games are going to get without actually being in England so it will be super special to have family and friends there.”
Two years on from a breakthrough bronze medal in the sprint at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Marchant won another bronze at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, which remains her only medal at the event.
“It’s really rare to be able to represent Team England in our sport. I missed the 2022 Commonwealth Games because I was having my first child so it’s super special to be back. I love the team environment and it’s nice to have something that feels pretty new. We do this to win medals. Gold medals are even more special and a Commonwealth gold is something I don’t have, so it would be really nice to be able to add that.”
Returning to such an elite level after childbirth is rare enough, but Marchant is keeping very exclusive company by returning after her second. American runner Allyson Felix is the standout modern-day example, while Fanny Blankers-Koen was a mother of two when she won four gold medals at the 1948 Olympic Games.
Marchant said: “I want to eke out every little bit I can in my career and then I can walk away really happy. It’s been crazy. It’s hard the first time and even harder the second time. As I said, I have really enjoyed the challenges and I want to give them as many experiences as I can and I want them to think their mum is pretty cool.”
