In a thrilling final in the Olympic velodrome, Australia’s Sam Welsford, Oliver Bleddyn, Conor Leahy, and Kelland O’Brien pursuit team defeated Britain to win the gold medal for the first time in twenty years. In a final in which the two teams were separated by fewer than two tenths for nearly the whole 4,000 meters, the Australians finished in three minutes, 42.067 seconds. They didn’t start to pull away until the British foursome of Oliver Wood, Charlie Tanfield, Ethan Hayter, and Daniel Bigham looked to touch wheels at the very end.
After Australia stormed through qualification, beat Olympic champion Italy, and stole the world record, finishing in 3:40.730, the men’s pursuit podium was set for turmoil.