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Crowds greet Kennaugh as he arrives at airport
Peter Kennaugh arrives Ronaldsway with Olympic Gold.
Scores of people greeted Olympian Peter Kennaugh when he arrived back in the island on Saturday.
Kennaugh and three Team GB colleagues won the medal in the men’s team pursuit on Friday night in London.
The 23-year-old from Onchan played a great role in Great Britain’s victory over Australia in the London Velodrome.
People from all over the island went to Ronaldsway Airport on Saturday to see him return.
He chatted with people at the airport and showed them his gold medal as they congratulated him on his historic achievement.
Pubs and homes across the island were packed with excited spectators watching television coverage of Kennaugh, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Geraint Thomas clinching the gold medal in front of a fanatical home crowd.
Kennaugh is now an Olympic and world champion.
The headteacher at his old school, St Ninian’s High School, Douglas, has added his congratulations.
Andy Fox said: ‘I would like to offer my congratulations and those of all at St Ninian’s High School to Peter Kennaugh and his teammates for winning the gold medal in the team pursuit.
‘Peter has shown great determination and discipline to further his cycling career in such an outstanding way. He has had great support from his family and sport on the Isle of Man, who have also helped him achieve success. He is a fantastic role model and inspiration for all young people in all walks of life. We at St Ninian’s are proud to say he is a former, student, teammate and friend.’
The President of Tynwald, Clare Christian, said: ‘What a fantastic achievement. Peter Kennaugh triggered an explosion of pride and delight in the island with an outstanding performance to bring home the gold medal with his team colleagues, while at the same time beating their own world record created only [the day before].
‘Our congratulations go to him on adding this fiercly sought-after pinnacle of achievement to his already impressive list of sporting successes.’
Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK said: ‘On behalf of the Manx nation, I would like to say how thrilled we are by Peter’s outstanding success this evening.‘It is a truly remarkable achievement for a small country such as the Isle of Man to produce an Olympic champion.’
Kennaugh began his racing career at the age of six, taking part in BMX events in the Isle of Man and made his name on the track scene when he won a junior world title in 2006.
He was part of the world record-breaking quartet in the team pursuit final at the 2012 Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.
Mr Bell added: ‘Peter’s gold medal-winning performance will help to raise further awareness of our island across the globe and act as an inspiration to future generations of sportsmen and women.
‘As a nation, the Isle of Man works hard to create an environment that nurtures talent and allows our young people to flourish, and it is extremely satisfying to see them succeed at the very highest level.
‘Peter has proved once again today what our young sporting stars can achieve if they have the ability, determination and support, and I hope others will follow his shining example.’
Mrs Christian has already sent a message of support to Mark Cavendish - who is now a pundit on the BBC’s Olympics coverage - on his performance in the Olympic road race earlier in the Games.
She said: ‘The outstanding sporting endeavours of these two Manxmen are promoting the Isle of Man to an international audience and inspiring a new generation of cyclists to great heights. I wish these world-class sportsmen every success for the future.’
The last time a Manxman won a gold medal was in 1912. Sulby-born Sidney Swann was part of the victorious British men’s eights rowing team.
More coverage - including photos of Kennaugh at Ronaldsway - will be published in tomorrow’s Isle of Man Examiner
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Weather for Isle of Man
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
