Mixed emotions for Emily Batty after fourth place in Rio
Batty was in medal contention throughout the race missing the podium by 2-seconds
Brooklin, Ont. native Emily Batty has had a very good 2016 season. After taking a bronze medal at the world championships she headed to Rio with ambitions of reaching the podium and the chops to do it after proving herself on the World Cup circuit with third place finishes at La Bresse and Mont-Saint-Anne sitting fourth overall in the series standings.
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However, despite a consistent ride in her second Olympic games, Batty was narrowly edged out of the Olympic medals by Canadian veteran Catharine Pendrel who took home the bronze medal.
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“As much as I wanted to get a medal for myself, I also wanted to help Team Canada. It’s exciting and it bolsters all of us when we do well. In cycling we have such a strong program and I feel it is only getting better,” said Batty who came within 2-second of overtaking Pendrel for a medal in the final. “We’re a strong nation and cycling is definitely a Canadian sport. We’ve seen this success and we’re going to keep building on it.”
#CAN Emily Batty just missed a medal after a close race in women's #CyclingMountainBike. https://t.co/JAoL0ve2RK https://t.co/G7ThOuKvGt
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 20, 2016
Batty was consistent throughout the race, finding herself as far back as eigth in a select chase group before attacking it to move into fourth place on course. Pendrel followed this move and was able to ride into contention for the bronze medal when Jolanda Neff of Switzerland fell of the pace of the two leaders Jenny Rissveds of Sweden and Maja Włoszczowska of Poland who would take gold and silver respectively.
“I’m so filled with mixed emotions right now,” admitted a dissapointed Batty. “After London’s experience with a broken collarbone to now, finishing literally ten feet off the podium … it’s some heartbreak. So I’m happy, but also really sad.”
Before heading to Rio Batty took the Canadian national cross country mountain bike title adding to her seasons international results.
“My preparation was amazing, and I’m so thankful for the [Cycling Canada] federation and especially my husband, Adam, who’s been coaching me all this way. I raced clean and I felt strong. It went pretty much according to plan and I was in the top five off the start loop, so from that point on I knew I was going to be a contender for the medals.”
