Dad of Olympian 'blown away' by silver medal win

Ed Lowe (left) from Stamford came away with silver in the men's team sprint, along with Jack Carlin and Hamish Turnbull

The father of cyclist Ed Lowe said it was "absolutely mind-blowing" to see his son come away with silver in the Olympic velodrome team sprint.

Ed Lowe, 20, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, rode the opening lap as Man 1 with teammates Jack Carlin and Hamish Turnbull.

They were beaten by a Netherlands trio and crossed the line 0.865 seconds behind the winners, but they achieved a new national best.

Ed, who attended King’s School Peterborough, started competitive cycling when he joined Fenland Clarion Cycling Club in Helpston.

Ed Lowe wanted to be a professional cyclist from the age of seven

Ed's dad, David Lowe, 57, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "It was an emotional rollercoaster yesterday. We were blown away.

"It was absolutely mind-blowing. It's unbelievable to see your lad out there."

David said Ed first got into cycling in 2012, which was when he decided he wanted to compete in the Olympics.

By the age of nine, his father said they were riding more than 100 miles together, and now he needs an e-bike to keep up with his son.

David and Hilary Lowe have been on an "emotional rollercoaster"

Reflecting on Ed's Olympic performance in Paris, David added: "To see him ride so consistently, go faster every round and do PBs on the day, we were so pleased.

"My wife was crying and I was screaming my head off. We are so happy."

Ed, who joined the Olympic podium programme in October 2023, previously told the BBC it was when he was watching the Tour de France when he was about seven that he realised he wanted to pursue cycling.

"I remember looking at my dad and saying, 'That's what I want to do", he said.

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