'I want to be the most successful British sprinter' – Emma Finucane chases huge career goal at Track World Championships

Emma Finucane, a 23-year-old British sprinter, aims to become the most successful British sprinter in her career as she prepares for her fifth UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai, China. Finucane has had an impressive season, breaking a world record in the flying 200m and winning multiple titles, including the European championship, National Championships, and Commonwealth Games.

The Welsh athlete is optimistic about her performance, attributing her success to consistent preparation and momentum from recent competitions. However, she acknowledges that she must focus on each race individually to succeed.

Finucane, who became Olympic champion in the team sprint alongside Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant in 2024, will be without Marchant at the World Championships due to her retirement from the Great Britain Cycling Team. Marchant, a three-time Olympic medalist, served as an inspiration for Finucane. The British athlete hopes to achieve her own milestones, such as winning two individual gold medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and adding more world titles to her record.

Currently, Finucane holds three world titles, with one from Glasgow in 2023 and two from Copenhagen in 2024. She is favored to win in the team sprint, sprint, and keirin events at the Shanghai Championships.

Finucane acknowledges that physical fitness is crucial but emphasizes the importance of mental strength to execute her races effectively. She reflected on a past incident during the recent World Championships in Santiago de Chile, where she was disqualified in the quarterfinals of the individual sprint for an infraction. Despite this setback, Finucane remains determined to perform at her best and achieve her goals in Shanghai. The UCI Track World Championships will take place at the Shanghai Velodrome from October 14-18.