The Guardian announces new Olympics columnist

Laura Kenny is the most successful British female Olympian ever, winning five gold medals at three consecutive Olympic Games for Team GB, at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. She was made a dame in the New Year's Honours list of 2022. She retired in March after a storied career in track and road cycling.

In an interview with the Guardian on Friday 19 July, Laura talks candidly about her career, her miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy and why she has always been prepared to tell it like she sees it. “Being able to speak out has been my biggest tool throughout my career,” Laura says in the interview. “Whether talking to a coach, a team-mate or the media, I’ve always told them straight how I’m feeling.”

Laura Kenny says: “Paris 2024 is going to be a very different Games for me, as it is going to be my first Summer Olympics since retiring, so I’ll have to get used to watching again rather than competing! I'm really excited to be taking Guardian readers into the heart of the action over the course of the two weeks, by talking all things cycling, the Olympics, Team GB and other issues close to my heart through my very own column.”

Will Woodward, head of sport, Guardian News & Media says: "We are delighted to welcome Laura to the Guardian for the Olympics. As one of the all-time great Olympians we couldn't have a better columnist. We look forward to her navigating readers through the excitement of competing at an Olympics, and what it takes to succeed at the very highest level. The Olympics are a marquee event for the Guardian and we will use it to showcase our commitment to European and women's sport, featuring some of the finest sports writers around."

With some of the greatest sports writers in the industry and a longstanding commitment to comprehensive sporting and European coverage, the Guardian says it is ideally placed to cover all the action and developing stories from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Guardian says highlights include:

• A special 40-page print supplement was available with the Guardian on Saturday 20 July, allowing readers to plan their coverage day-by-day, with a medals and results service for Olympics fans following online.
• Rolling live blogs every day from Monday 22 July documenting the early action, build-up and latest developments ahead of the official opening ceremony on Friday 26 July.
• Expert news, features and analysis from Paris, plus in-depth reports on politics and power moves, with chief sports reporter Sean Ingle and chief sports writer Barney Ronay, Jonathan Liew, Andy Bull, Tumaini Carayol, European sports correspondent Nick Ames, Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis, chief reporter Daniel Boffey, Alexandra Topping, Ewan Murray, Jeremy Whittle and Suzanne Wrack.
• The Guardian's round-the clock coverage will be global with a focus on European news and stories; the Guardian’s new digital Europe edition provides readers on the continent with a dedicated source of European news and will showcase the Guardian’s extensive sports journalism, Guardian US’s deputy sport editor Bryan Armen Graham is covering all things Team USA, while Guardian Australia sport reporters Jack Snape and Kieran Pender will share the big moments for Australia.
• Star Olympic columnists will share their views throughout the Games, including celebrated Olympic cyclist Laura Kenny and Olympic rower Cath Bishop.
• And there will be photojournalism from David Levene and Tom Jenkins, recently named sports photographer of the year at the Press Awards.

After the Olympics, the Guardian says it will offer full coverage of the 2024 Paralympic Games (28 August-8 September), with sports writers Paul MacInnes and Tanya Aldred, Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis, daily liveblogs, and a comprehensive medals and results service. Ade Adepitan, the TV presenter and Paralympian, will also return to the Guardian to give his expert take on events in Paris.