Rachel Sarah James (born 1988) is a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

racing cyclist specializing in track cycling. James, from

Abergavenny Abergavenny (; cy, Y Fenni , archaically ''Abergafenni'' meaning "mouth of the River Gavenny") is a market town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales. Abergavenny is promoted as a ''Gateway to Wales''; it is approximately from the border wi ...

, Wales, is the daughter of David James and Christine Harris, and has a younger sister, Becky, who is a world champion racing cyclist, and also has another two younger sisters; Ffion and Megan, and brother Gareth, who are all keen cyclists. Although Rachel is older than Becky, it was Becky who entered the sport first: she persuaded Rachel to take up cycling, with the hope of the pair representing Wales in the team sprint at the

2014 Commonwealth Games The 2014 Commonwealth Games ( gd, Geamannan a' Cho-fhlaitheis 2014), officially known as the XX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Glasgow 2014, ( sco, Glesca 2014 or Glesga 2014; gd, Glaschu 2014), was an international multi-sport ev ...

- however these hopes were dashed when the event was removed from the Glasgow games' schedule. In 2013 James became a pilot for paracyclist Sophie Thornhill. The pair won a gold medal and set a new world record at the 2014 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in

Aguascalientes Aguascalientes (; ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Aguascalientes), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. At 22°N and ...

in the 1km time trial, on their debut in a major international event. They subsequently won a second gold in the tandem

sprint Sprint may refer to: Aerospace *Spring WS202 Sprint, a Canadian aircraft design *Sprint (missile), an anti-ballistic missile Automotive and motorcycle *Alfa Romeo Sprint, automobile produced by Alfa Romeo between 1976 and 1989 *Chevrolet Sprint, ...

. James represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 2014 where she rode as pilot for former paralympic swimmer

Rhiannon Henry Rhiannon Henry (born 20 May 1987) is a Welsh swimmer, paracyclist and paratriathlete who has competed in the Paralympic Games on three occasions winning two medals in swimming events. She also won World and European Championship medals as a sw ...

. James reunited with Thornhill to compete in the

2014 British National Track Championships The 2014 British National Track Championships are a series of track cycling competitions held from 24–28 September 2014, at the Manchester Velodrome. They were organised and sanctioned by British Cycling, and were open to British cyclists. Comp ...

in September, where they won the mixed time trial and the 200 metre flying start time trial for blind and visually impaired riders. In addition James took a bronze medal in the team sprint alongside Helen Scott.

Palmarès

;2012 :1st Team sprint, British National Track Championships (with

Becky James Rebecca Angharad James (born 29 November 1991) is a Welsh former professional racing cyclist specialising in track cycling. James was the 2013 world sprint and keirin champion. She is a 2016 Rio Olympics double silver medalist. James rode for ...

) ;2013 :3rd Keirin, British National Track Championships :3rd Team sprint, British National Track Championships (with Ellie Coster) ;2014 :1st Tandem B 1km time trial, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships (with Sophie Thornhill) :1st Tandem B sprint, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships (with Sophie Thornhill) :1st Para Cycling BVI mixed time trial, British National Track Championships (with Sophie Thornhill) :1st Para Cycling BVI 200m flying start time trial, British National Track Championships (with Sophie Thornhill) :3rd Team sprint, British National Track Championships (with Helen Scott) ;2017 :2nd Keirin, Oberhausen :3rd Keirin, International track race - Panevežys

References

1988 births Living people Sportspeople from Abergavenny Welsh female cyclists Cyclists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games competitors for Wales Triathletes at the 2018 Commonwealth Games {{UK-cycling-bio-stub