Becky North

Former track cyclist

Welsh Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales Sagittarius 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)

Quick Info

ProfessionFormer track cyclist
NationalityWelsh
Date of Birth29/11/1991
Age34 years
BirthplaceAbergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales
Zodiac SignSagittarius

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Bio/Wiki

SummaryBecky North (née James), widely known in cycling as Becky James, is a Welsh former professional track cyclist who won the 2013 world sprint and keirin titles and two silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
RetirementAnnounced her retirement from cycling in August 2017.
Current RoleAppointed as an ambassador for Beicio Cymru, the Welsh cycling organisation, in June 2026.
Full Birth NameRebecca Angharad James

Physical Stats & More

Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolKing Henry VIII School, Abergavenny

Personal Life

Post-RetirementSet up a baking business after retiring from cycling

Family

ParentsDavid James and Christine Harris
Siblings
  • Rachel James (older sister, also a cyclist)
  • Ffion James, Megan James and Gareth James

Career

Club StartAbergavenny Road Club
Representative Teams
  • Wales
  • Great Britain Cycling Team
Programmes
  • Welsh Talent Team
  • British Cycling Olympic Podium Programme
Major Achievements
  • Gold in sprint and 500m time trial and silver in keirin at the 2009 European Track Championships
  • Keirin and sprint titles at the 2009 UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships
  • Set a world record for the flying 200 metres in 2009
  • Bronze in 500m time trial and silver in sprint at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi
  • World sprint champion in 2013, beating Kristina Vogel in the final
  • Silver in keirin and sprint at the 2016 Rio Olympics
  • World keirin champion in 2013 in Minsk
  • Bronze in team sprint and 500m time trial at the 2013 World Championships
Awards and Recognition
  • Daily Telegraph-Aviva Sport Matters Female Pupil of the Year (2009)
  • Nominated for BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year (2010)
Professional TeamMotorpoint–Marshalls Pasta (from 2010), later Velosure–Giordana

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Was forced to withdraw from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow due to a knee injury.
2. Was fast-tracked for the London 2012 Olympic Games after first being selected for the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme.
3. Began cycling at around age 11 through an afternoon cycling club organised by her school.
4. Her older sister Rachel James later became a cyclist and became a pilot for paracyclist Sophie Thornhill in 2013.

Also born on 29 November

Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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