Para-Cyclist Jody Cundy, 48, Eyes 20th Straight World Title

At 48 years old, Jody Cundy is chasing a record that sounds almost impossible: winning the same world championship event for 20 straight years.

The British Para-cyclist hasn't lost a kilo race at the World Championships since 2006. This Thursday in the Netherlands, he'll attempt to extend that remarkable streak to two decades in the rainbow jersey.

The kilo is brutal. Four laps around the track, flat out from a standing start, with legs and lungs screaming as lactic acid builds. "At the end of it, your legs don't want to pedal," Cundy tells BBC Sport. "But when you get it right, it's really cool."

Cundy's dominance spans generations. Some of his competitors weren't even born when he won his first Paralympic gold medal as a swimmer in 1996. Teammate Archie Atkinson, now 22, was just two years old when Cundy became world champion as a cyclist after switching sports.

"One of my first races was against him," said Atkinson. "That felt pretty special."

But the young guns are catching up. Atkinson beat Cundy at last year's National Track Championships, though Cundy reclaimed his crown at Worlds a few months later. The respect between them runs deep. "If he wins, it's historic," Atkinson said. "There aren't many people who can win for 20 years."

Why This Inspires

Cundy's longevity isn't just about physical ability. His teammates call him "captain" for good reason. After 31 years in elite sport, he's become the person everyone looks up to, bridging generations with both his performance and his leadership.

He's realistic about his future. Qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics at age 49 will be tough. But Cundy isn't focused on walking away. He's thinking about giving back, whether through coaching, management, or working with governing bodies to create more opportunities for Para-cyclists.

Right now, Para-track cyclists compete at just one UCI event per year: the World Championships. "That's really not good enough," Cundy said. He wants to use his platform and experience to change that, to make the sport better for those who'll follow him.

Whether Cundy wins his 20th title this week or not, his legacy is already secure: a champion who kept showing up, kept competing, and kept proving that age is just another challenge to overcome.