Emma Finucane narrowly missed out on gold at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai, securing bronze in the women’s keirin on the event’s final day. The 23-year-old Welsh cyclist led for much of the final lap but was beaten in a photo finish by Alina Lysenko, who claimed the gold, with Germany’s Lea Friedrich taking silver. The margin between Finucane and the winner was just 14 thousandths of a second.

This marked Finucane’s third medal of the championships, adding to silver medals she earned in both the individual and team sprint events. Reflecting on her performance, Finucane expressed both frustration at narrowly missing gold and pride in medaling across three races, a feat she had not achieved before. She highlighted the confidence gained from the competition and emphasized her determination to improve ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“Now I’ve got two more years to try to keep pushing, to keep getting stronger. Roll on LA,” Finucane said following the race. She acknowledged the learning process associated with high-level competition and emphasized her focus on long-term goals.

The championships took place amid additional challenges for Finucane, as her partner Matthew Richardson was sent home earlier in the week following a British Cycling investigation into serious allegations of misconduct. Despite this distraction, Finucane maintained a positive outlook and commitment to her sport.

Great Britain concluded the championships as the most successful nation, finishing atop the medal table with a total of 12 medals. The team’s haul included three gold medals won by Anna Morris, 31, and marked the best British performance at a Track Cycling World Championships since 2008.

In other notable results, Ireland’s Lara Gillespie secured her second world title by winning the women’s points race, finishing ahead of Denmark’s Amalie Dideriksen by five points. The championships showcased strong competition across the board and set the stage for upcoming international events.