Harrie Lavreysen, born on March 14, 1997, is a remarkable Dutch track cyclist renowned for his prowess in sprint events. His illustrious career is highlighted by an impressive tally of five Olympic gold medals, achieved during the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics. At the 2020 Games, he clinched gold in both the sprint and team sprint events, and he further solidified his legacy by winning the sprint, team sprint, and keirin titles at the 2024 Olympics.
Lavreysen's dominance extends to the World Championships, where he has amassed a record-breaking twenty titles. His achievements include seven consecutive victories in the individual sprint from 2019 to 2025, seven titles in the team sprint from 2018 to 2021 and 2023 to 2025, and four titles in the keirin from 2020 to 2022 and in 2025. Additionally, he has secured two titles in the 1km time trial in 2024 and 2025, making him the most successful track cyclist in World Championship history.
His journey in competitive cycling began with an international debut at the 2016 UEC European Track Championships, where he participated in the team sprint event. Since then, Lavreysen has continued to excel, accumulating fourteen European Track Championship titles along the way.
Before transitioning to track cycling, Lavreysen was a BMX rider, showcasing his versatility and athleticism. Known affectionately as 'The Beast,' he has set numerous records in the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, including the most total gold medals at twenty, the most gold medals in individual events at thirteen, and the record for the most gold medals in a single edition with four in 2025.