New Zealand cyclist Jordan Kerby has announced his retirement from the sport. weeks after winning gold in the men’s team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games.
The 30-year-old rider was part of the quartet with Aaron Gate, Campbell Stewart and Tom Sexton that beat hosts England in record time in the final at Lee Valley VeloPark in London to win New Zealand’s first gold in the event since 1990.
Brisbane-born Kerby had previously represented Australia and won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the same event, but was thrown out by the Australian lineup two years after the Tokyo Olympics.
Kerby was then welcomed to the New Zealand environment (he qualified through his Kiwi mother) after reaching out to Cycling New Zealand’s high performance director Martin Barras about making the switch.
He represented his adopted nation in Tokyo, but crashed in the bronze medal race with Australia after teammate Gate pinched his rear wheel and crashed into the planks with 1625m to go and New Zealand in the lead.
After redemption in London and a new record for the Commonwealth Games, Kerby felt the time was right to kick away.
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Jordan Kerby, far right, with New Zealand teammates Campbell Stewart, Tom Sexton and Aaron Gate after winning gold in the men’s team pursuit at the recent Commonwealth Games.
“It was so hard getting myself out of bed every day and crushing myself on the road and track preparing for the London campaign,” Kerby said after confirming his retirement.
“The day after that crash in Tokyo, we promised to go again. For me it was this campaign and I can’t go any further. We know we have so much depth within the squad and it shows in how well Tom Sexton has risen to fill the wheel in one position in London.”
Kerby is still based in Queensland and postponed his marriage for a year to prepare with the rest of the team for the Tokyo Olympics in Cambridge.
The closed borders during the Covid-19 pandemic prevented him from crossing the Tasman to see his then-fiance and now his wife, who supported his decision to give it another try at the Commonwealth Games.
“I cannot say enough for the support I have received from Cycling New Zealand, from the high performance staff, from my coaches and from the riders. These guys are my brothers and it’s been the best four years of my career,” Kerby said.
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Jordan Kerby previously represented Australia and won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“But I know it’s time. Probably only elite athletes know what it takes to be competitive in an Olympic sport. I knew my time was up.”
Kerby has already planned his next career move which will be coaching young riders in his native Queensland. He said he hoped to be remembered as a “proud Kiwi” who “gave everything I had”.