Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott made it a double-double and earned a standing ovation when they broke their own world record to win gold for England in the women’s B&VI 1000m time trial on the third day at the Commonwealth Games.
A time of 1:04.623 for Loughborough College alumna Sophie and pilot Helen followed their win in Thursday’s sprint, also in a world record time – after the pair won both events with world records at last month’s world championships.
Reigning Commonwealth champions Sophie and Helen beat Australia’s Jessica Gallagher (with Madison Janssen) into second place. Scotland’s Aileen McGlynn (with Louise Haston) was third.
Speaking after her dominant performance, former Loughborough College sport student Sophie said: "Amazing. It's more than we ever thought we'd come away with, to come away with two golds and two world records is just insane. Everyone kept asking me if I was going to break [own world record], but I'm absolutely over the moon. Can't believe it.
"The trust that I have in [Helen] definitely came out in a second sprint match on Thursday, for me I trust her 100% and the way that we're going to go quick and the way that our bike's going to be the best is having complete trust in her and letting her do her thing, so I just have to sit there and pedal hard. You need to co-operate, on and off the bike.
“It’s been a busy few weeks for us, we just came from the world championships and to go home with four golds and four world records is more than we ever imagined so we are absolutely over the moon.
“They just love sport in Australia, as soon as they clocked on that it was going to be a fast time you could hear them going louder and louder and for them to give us a standing ovation was just amazing.”
Helen Scott added: "We knew that we could do something pretty good so anything we did around what we did in Rio we'd be pleased with, and to surpass it is unbelievable.
"Sophie and I have been riding together for four years now, we're really good friends and I've got no doubt that really helps. Getting along with each other and being so comfortable enough to have those difficult conversations when training isn't going quite so well and pushing each other every day, I think I spend more time with Sophie than I do with my family and my friends back home. It's a really special partnership and we trust each other one hundred per cent, and as the years have gone by we've synced together much better, it's a dream team.
“In term of speed, I have no idea of what’s going on when we race, we just go as hard as we can. We could hear the crowd, but I didn’t know at the time whether they were just cheering to support or whether it was because it was a great time and obviously when we crossed the line we realised why they were going wild and it’s the best crowd we’ve ever had.
“The only times we’ve seen a crowd like this is at the Paralympic games. They were even better, they all stood up and I’m not sure they would have done that in Rio, if I could bottle that moment I would.”
Pictured: Loughborough College alumna Sophie Thornhill (left) with Helen Scott after winning the B&VI TT - her second gold and second world record breaking performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games