Laura triumphs over adverse beginning
Born in Essex with a collapsed lung and four weeks premature, Laura Trott spent her first six weeks of life in intensive care on a ventilator.
Now 24 years later, Trott is Great Britian’s most successful Olympic female competitor, having won both the team pursuit and the omnium at both the 2012 and 2016 games.
As a toddler she had continual chest infections and was diagnosed with asthma. She was advised by doctors to take up a sport to regulate her breathing, initially she tried trampolining but had to give up due to respitory issues. It wasn’t until her mum decided to get into shape and took the family to the local cycling track that she really found her true passion. Later, she developed a condition that caused her to faint without warning, and even now she struggles with reflux which can make her throw up after training. Spectators may have seen Laura retching into a bag after the individual pursuit of the Omnium event.
You can read more about Laura’s battle and her rise to become Britain’s golden girl here