Inside stories

Great Britain's Darren Kenny said he exceeded his own expectations following a successful individual campaign at the World Para-Cycling Track Championships in Los Angeles.

The 41-year-old four-time 2008 Paralympic champion won a gold medal and two silvers as Britain finished top of the medals table once again against the best riders in the world.

Kenny's achievements were made the more impressive after sustaining arm and wrist injuries during last September's World Para-Road Cycling Championships in Roskilde Denmark.

He only returned to training at the end of December after doctors confirmed he would not need surgery on his wrist.

"I hadn’t had time to fully prepare so I wasn’t expecting great results," Kenny told C4Paralympics.

By the final, I didn’t have anything left - Darren Kenny

"But I had to do as much as I had to do to get the qualification points for London."

Kenny went into the men's C3 3km pursuit as the defending world champion and record holder, but was beaten in the final by Australia's David Nicholas in a time of three minutes 41.63 seconds.

"Although it was worse than what I normally do, it was better than I expected," said Kenny.

"My realistic expectations were that I would maybe get into the ride-off for bronze at best. 

"It helped that Amador Granados Alkorta, the Spanish rider, was sick - he did an awful time for him and he’s usually the fastest of the two Spanish riders. 

"But by the final, I didn’t have anything left – I was absolutely shattered. I had to give it over to the better rider on the day. I was pleased though, it gave me a lot of confidence for London given the time I had to prepare."

However, Kenny avenged his defeat the following day when he beat Nicholas to gold in the C3 1km time trial, taking top spot on the podium in a time of 1:12.49secs.

"I pulled that one off, which was very good but I still felt terrible from the day before," said Kenny. 

You learn a lot in defeat, it provides the motivation to succeed the next time - Darren Kenny

"It was the lack of sleep and jetlag more than anything else but we’re not going to have that in London. I was pleased with my performance and the time."

Great Britain were favourites to add to their gold-medal tally in the mixed sprint with women's C5 500m time trial and 3km pursuit champion Sarah Storey joining Kenny and Jody Cundy for the first time in international competition.

However, China produced one of the performances of the championships and consigned Britain to their first defeat in nearly five years in the team sprint.

"The Chinese did an amazing ride – they were so much faster than qualifying," added Kenny.

"Even if we prepared better I don’t think we would have beaten them. Having said that, I was below my best so there's still more to come in London. 

"You learn a lot in defeat, it provides the motivation to succeed the next time."