Laura Kenny named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year

Four-time Olympic Games gold medallist Laura Kenny has won the 2016 Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award.

Kenny claimed gold medals in the multi-discipline omnium and team pursuit events in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 summer Games – successfully defending both titles from 2012 – and is now Britain's most decorated female Olympian in history.

"Thank you so much for everybody's support over the last year. So honoured to be Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year," said Kenny via Instagram. "It was great to be in a room full of incredible female role models!"

The 24-year-old track specialist from Essex beat Paralympic cyclist multi-champion Dame Sarah Storey, taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones and boxer Nicola Adams to the coveted title.

Kenny was officially presented with the accolade by last year's winner Jessica Ennis-Hill on Thursday night at the awards ceremony.

>>> Watch: Laura Kenny on racing again and getting used to being Mrs Kenny (video)

Kenny will continue with her successful Olympic career, now turning her attention to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The omnium event has been altered for the next Games, with all individual rounds now dropped and with four events instead of six.

Kenny (née Trott) married fellow GB track cycling athlete Jason Kenny in September.