| | Event type

Sprint, Women

Date	6 – 8 August 2021
Status	Olympic
Location	Izu Velodrome, 1826 Ono, Izu, Shizuoka 410-2402, Japan
Participants	29 from 18 countries
Format	Qualifying over 3½ laps, or 875 metres. Match races over 3 laps, or 750 metres.

The women’s individual sprint contained many leading riders with a chance of the gold medal. The fastest in qualifying was Germany’s Lea-Sophie Friedrich, who set a new Olympic record 10.310. Her compatriot, and fellow sprint team silver medallist three days earlier, the reigning world champion Emma Hinze, qualified as third fastest with Canada’s Kelsey Mitchell separating the two Germans. Fourth fastest in qualifying was Mathilde Gros, France’s 2019 World Championships bronze medallist.

All the medallists from the team sprint competition were in action and two of them met in the opening round with the ROC’s Darya Shmelyova and Anastasiya Voynova being paired together. It was the 2020 World Championships runner-up Voynova who triumphed. Shmelyova went out of the competition after finishing last of three in her repêchage. All the other fancied riders made it through to the last 16, although team sprint gold medallist Bao Shanju needed the repêchage to qualify.

The cream of the 1/8 finals were the clashes between Friedrich and Voynova, and the one between recent team sprint medallists Zhong Tianshi and Hinze. The two Germans got the better of their opponents to reach the quarter-finals. Britain’s Katy Merchant and Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee met for a second time in the quarter-final after Merchant had already beaten her opponent in the 1/16 finals.

The only quarter-final to require a decider was between Ukraine’s Olena Starikova and Friedrich, with the German losing narrowly. Friedrich’s team-mate Hinze beat the new keirin gold medallist Shanne Braspennincx in two straight races. The other quarter-finals were also decided in two races with Kelsey Mitchell beating Lauriane Genest in the race between the two Canadians. The fourth and final heat saw Britain’s Katy Marchant eventually beaten by the 2019 world champion Sarah Lee.

The semi-finals saw the two favourites Lee and Hinze both eliminated. Starikova beat Lee in two races while Canada’s Mitchell disposed of Hinze, also in two races. The gold medal went to Kelsey Mitchell, who beat the more experienced former 500m time trial world Championship silver medallist Olena Starikova, while the bronze went to the 2019 world sprint champion Lee, who beat Hinze. Mitchell, who only took up cycling in 2017, won the second ever medal by a Canadian woman in the sprint, following Lori-Ann Muenzer’s gold at Athens in 2004.

Pos	Nr	Cyclist	NOC
1	–	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	Gold
2	–	Olena Starikova	UKR	Silver
3	–	Sarah Lee	HKG	Bronze
4	–	Emma Hinze	GER
5	–	Lea-Sophie Friedrich	GER
6	–	Katy Marchant	GBR
7	–	Shanne Braspennincx	NED
8	–	Lauriane Genest	CAN
9	–	Mathilde Gros	FRA
10	–	Zhong Tianshi	CHN
11	–	Ellesse Andrews	NZL
12	–	Anastasiya Voynova	ROC
13	–	Kaarle McCulloch	AUS
14	–	Yuka Kobayashi	JPN
15	–	Bao Shanju	CHN
16	–	Maddie Godby	USA
17	–	Darya Shmelyova	ROC
18	–	Daniela Gaxiola	MEX
19	–	Simona Krupeckaitė	LTU
20	–	Yuli Verdugo	MEX
21	–	Lee Hye-Jin	KOR
22	–	Charlene Du Preez	RSA
23	–	Liubov Basova	UKR
24	–	Miglė Marozaitė	LTU
25	–	Urszula Łoś	POL
26	–	Marlena Karwacka	POL
27	–	Kirstie James	NZL
28	–	Jessica Lee	HKG
29	–	Coralie Demay	FRA
DNS	–	Laurine van Riessen	NED

Qualifying Round (6 August 2021 — 15:30)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lea-Sophie Friedrich	GER	10.310	OR
2	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	10.346
3	Emma Hinze	GER	10.381
4	Mathilde Gros	FRA	10.400
5	Lauriane Genest	CAN	10.460
6	Olena Starikova	UKR	10.461
7	Shanne Braspennincx	NED	10.479
8	Katy Marchant	GBR	10.495
9	Sarah Lee	HKG	10.538
10	Zhong Tianshi	CHN	10.559
11	Ellesse Andrews	NZL	10.563
12	Darya Shmelyova	ROC	10.667
13	Anastasiya Voynova	ROC	10.669
14	Kaarle McCulloch	AUS	10.679
15	Daniela Gaxiola	MEX	10.682
16	Simona Krupeckaitė	LTU	10.706
17	Yuka Kobayashi	JPN	10.711
18	Bao Shanju	CHN	10.723
19	Yuli Verdugo	MEX	10.818
20	Maddie Godby	USA	10.869
21	Lee Hye-Jin	KOR	10.904

Round One (6 August 2021 — 16:16)

Winner of each heat advanced to eighth-finals.

Heat One (16:16)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lea-Sophie Friedrich	GER	11.226
2	Miglė Marozaitė	LTU	at 0.370

Heat Two (16:19)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	11.105
2	Liubov Basova	UKR	at 0.535

Heat Three (16:22)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Emma Hinze	GER	10.923
2	Charlene Du Preez	RSA	at 0.415

Heat Four (16:25)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Mathilde Gros	FRA	11.216
2	Lee Hye-Jin	KOR	at 0.797

Heat Five (16:28)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lauriane Genest	CAN	11.102
2	Maddie Godby	USA	at 0.121

Heat Six (16:31)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Olena Starikova	UKR	10.870
2	Yuli Verdugo	MEX	at 0.107

Heat Seven (16:34)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Shanne Braspennincx	NED	10.979
2	Bao Shanju	CHN	at 0.152

Heat Eight (16:37)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Katy Marchant	GBR	11.134
2	Yuka Kobayashi	JPN	at 0.612

Heat Nine (16:40)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Sarah Lee	HKG	11.196
2	Simona Krupeckaitė	LTU	at 0.102

Heat Eleven (16:46)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Ellesse Andrews	NZL	10.996
2	Kaarle McCulloch	AUS	at 0.255

Heat Twelve (16:49)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Anastasiya Voynova	ROC	11.340
2	Darya Shmelyova	ROC	at 0.056

Round One, Heat Ten (6 August 2021 — 16:43)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Zhong Tianshi	CHN	10.744
2	Daniela Gaxiola	MEX	at 0.087

Round One Repêchage (6 August 2021 — 16:58)

Winner of each heat advanced to eighth-finals.

Heat One (16:58)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Yuka Kobayashi	JPN	11.335
2	Simona Krupeckaitė	LTU	at 0.052
3	Miglė Marozaitė	LTU	at 0.265

Heat Two (17:01)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Bao Shanju	CHN	10.913
2	Daniela Gaxiola	MEX	at 0.027
3	Liubov Basova	UKR	at 0.602

Heat Three (17:04)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Kaarle McCulloch	AUS	11.194
2	Yuli Verdugo	MEX	at 0.041
3	Charlene Du Preez	RSA	at 0.354

Heat Four (17:07)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Maddie Godby	USA	11.372
2	Lee Hye-Jin	KOR	at 0.054
3	Darya Shmelyova	ROC	at 0.057

Round Two (6 August 2021 — 18:06)

Winner of each heat advanced to round three.

Heat One (18:06)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lea-Sophie Friedrich	GER	11.085
2	Maddie Godby	USA	at 0.391

Heat Two (18:09)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	11.198
2	Kaarle McCulloch	AUS	at 0.135

Heat Three (18:12)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Emma Hinze	GER	10.904
2	Bao Shanju	CHN	at 0.201

Heat Four (18:15)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Mathilde Gros	FRA	11.292
2	Yuka Kobayashi	JPN	at 0.485

Heat Five (18:18)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lauriane Genest	CAN	11.251
2	Anastasiya Voynova	ROC	at 0.035

Heat Six (18:21)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Olena Starikova	UKR	10.900
2	Ellesse Andrews	NZL	at 0.026

Heat Seven (18:24)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Shanne Braspennincx	NED	10.912
2	Zhong Tianshi	CHN	at 0.030

Heat Eight (18:27)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Katy Marchant	GBR	10.970
2	Sarah Lee	HKG	at 0.025

Round Two Repêchage (6 August 2021 — 18:53)

Winner of each heat advanced to round three.

Heat One (18:53)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Sarah Lee	HKG	11.402
2	Maddie Godby	USA	at 0.168

Heat Two (18:56)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Zhong Tianshi	CHN	11.200
2	Kaarle McCulloch	AUS	at 0.117

Heat Three (18:59)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Ellesse Andrews	NZL	11.144
2	Bao Shanju	CHN	at 0.234

Heat Four (19:02)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Anastasiya Voynova	ROC	11.386
2	Yuka Kobayashi	JPN	at 0.275

Round Three (7 August 2021 — 15:30)

Winner of each heat advanced to quarter-finals.

Heat One (15:30)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lea-Sophie Friedrich	GER	11.117
2	Anastasiya Voynova	ROC	at 0.135

Heat Two (15:33)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	10.883
2	Ellesse Andrews	NZL	at 0.005

Heat Three (15:36)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Emma Hinze	GER	11.094
2	Zhong Tianshi	CHN	at 0.359

Heat Four (15:39)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Sarah Lee	HKG	11.201
2	Mathilde Gros	FRA	at 0.019

Heat Five (15:42)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Katy Marchant	GBR	10.935
2	Lauriane Genest	CAN	at 0.179

Heat Six (15:45)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Shanne Braspennincx	NED	10.889
2	Olena Starikova	UKR	at 0.045

Round Three Repêchage (7 August 2021 — 16:13)

Winner of each heat advanced to quarter-finals.

Heat One (16:13)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lauriane Genest	CAN	10.968
2	Mathilde Gros	FRA	at 0.001
3	Anastasiya Voynova	ROC	at 0.095

Heat Two (16:16)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Olena Starikova	UKR	11.074
2	Ellesse Andrews	NZL	at 0.007
3	Zhong Tianshi	CHN	at 0.056

Quarter-Finals (7 August 2021 — 16:39)

Best two of three races. Winner of each heat advanced to semi-finals.

Heat One (16:39)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time	Race 3 Time
1	Olena Starikova	UKR	10.977	at 0.018	10.874
2	Lea-Sophie Friedrich	GER	at 0.001	10.887	at 0.019

Heat Two (16:42)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time
1	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	11.068	11.055
2	Lauriane Genest	CAN	at 0.041	at 0.058

Heat Three (16:45)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time
1	Emma Hinze	GER	10.829	10.773
2	Shanne Braspennincx	NED	at 0.098	at 0.074

Heat Four (16:48)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time
1	Sarah Lee	HKG	10.861	10.958
2	Katy Marchant	GBR	at 0.027	at 0.036

Semi-Finals (8 August 2021 — 10:18)

Best two of three races. Winner of each heat advanced to final.

Heat One (10:18)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time
1	Olena Starikova	UKR	11.086	10.890
2	Sarah Lee	HKG	at 0.040	at 0.128

Heat Two (10:21)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time	Race 3 Time
1	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	10.926	at 0.285	10.728
2	Emma Hinze	GER	at 0.101	10.998	at 0.176

Final Round (8 August 2021 — 11:06)

Heat 1/2 (11:23)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time
1	Kelsey Mitchell	CAN	10.906	10.995
2	Olena Starikova	UKR	at 0.061	at 0.064

Heat 3/4 (11:20)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Race 1 Time	Race 2 Time
1	Sarah Lee	HKG	11.110	11.283
2	Emma Hinze	GER	at 0.964	at 0.233

Heat 5-8 (11:06)

Pos	Cyclist	NOC	Time
1	Lea-Sophie Friedrich	GER	10.817
2	Katy Marchant	GBR	at 0.099
3	Shanne Braspennincx	NED	at 0.126
4	Lauriane Genest	CAN	at 0.216