‘Some athletes need to be fully focused… I’m not like that’

Scotland has a rich history of producing famous track cyclists. Lauren Bell believes that may soon change, despite the fact that she is yet to go about doing so.

The Forres racer has won three golds at the British equivalent and a silver at the European Championship in 2025.

Following the “benefit in disguise” of missing out on selection for the 2012 Olympic Games, the 25-year-old is reaping the rewards of her decision to rebalance her work-life balance.

She told BBC Scotland, “I was just putting too much pressure on myself.” Some athletes must maintain complete concentration while performing their training.

I don’t consider myself to be that kind of athlete. I must visit with my pals, have dinner out with friends, and do things. However, I was making myself stop participating in extracurricular activities, which was bad for me because I wasn’t very happy.

Bell already holds two World Championship titles, including silver in 2023, an improvement on bronze from the previous year, and will look to rise once more in Chile in October.

There were few indications of her future in Moray, she said, “I just didn’t like cycling.” This is what makes her story even more intriguing.

Bell, however, switched to cycling when she was in her late teens after being discovered on a Manchester talent transfer day.

I really wanted skeleton, but I was picked for cycling and immediately fell in love with it after looking at the track sprint, skeleton, and kayaking.

Bell’s journey has been bumpy even after that. She was contacted by Scottish Cycling to train with them despite having to leave the British program.

She said, “It gave me the opportunity to really learn how to ride my bike,” which in turn led to a long-term improvement.

“They helped me reach the point where I won the Keirin and the 500m, completed an incredible time trial lap, and British Cycling asked me to return to.”

Bell wants to attend the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, but she also has the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in mind for the coming summer.

All eyes are on that, she said, because that is actually my main objective. “I’ve wanted a Commonwealth Games medal since I was really young, and I want to hear Flower of Scotland speak on the podium.”

Bell is also working on learning Gaelic, and perhaps even conducting a post-medal interview in the language, with that goal.

She said, “I can see I’m getting there, but it’s difficult.”