I'm going to give Jason a big hug - proud gran

10:40am Wednesday 20th August 2008

Jason Kenny, the 20-year-old Olympic double medal winner from Farnworth, is now looking forward to returning home to celebrate with family and friends.

His parents, Michael and Lorraine Kenny, are in Beijing where they have been cheering on their son.

Among those anxious to catch a glimpse of Jason’s gold and silver medals when he heads back to Farnworth this week are his grandparents, Joyce and Frank Fee.

“I’m going to give him a big hug. We are all very proud of him,” said Mrs Fee, aged 75, who lives in Farnworth.

She has been glued to the TV, watching her grandson’s battle to take gold and silver medals.

She said: “I had all my fingers and toes crossed.”

Jason has undoubtedly been one of the stars of the Olympics and has proved he deserved to be selected for Team GB.

He joined the Sprint Academy full-time straight from finishing his A-levels and was being groomed to take part in the 2012 Olympics.

But he impressed the judges so much at trials for the GB cycling team going to Beijing that he earned the last of four places up for grabs.

The Olympic medals are the culmination of countless hours of tough training, including working with weights in the gym and cycling miles of roads, both in the UK and Majorca and at the Manchester Velodrome.

Before the team headed out to Beijing, they spent two weeks training in Newport.

Team-mates describe Jason as relaxed when he is not on the track, killing time by surfing the internet or playing on games consoles.

But he is far from relaxed when he gets on a bicycle, setting a blistering pace his rivals can only dream of.

Now he is set to become a household name, with a victory parade for Team GB through the streets of London and a reception with the Queen to look forward to in October.

But his grandmother says his new-found fame will not change him.

“He'll cope. He has a sensible head on his shoulders,” said Mrs Fee.