JASON KENNY might be Britain’s greatest ever Olympian but he would not want you to roll out the red carpet for him.

In fact, one half of this country’s top sporting power-couple treats a camera lens like he does a track cycling rival — a target to speed away from.

And while Jason and wife Laura have been inundated with celeb invites since returning home triumphantly from the Tokyo Olympics, they have different approaches to being photographed.

Jason laughed: “We’ve done a few events in recent weeks but we missed the red carpet at one of them.

“Laura got the hump. I must look like an agent or something. Or people assume I’m staff.

“We just got waved through round the back. I was like, ‘Come on love, they don’t want us’, that type of thing. We slipped by all the cameras. Laura said, ‘I’ve got all done up for no reason!’.

“I saw it as a good thing! In typical man fashion, I didn’t see the downside as I didn’t want it.

“I’m not really bothered about the pictures. I know what I look like. I was wearing the same suit I got married in — and I’ve already got a picture of that at home.”

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It is a classic story that underlines Kenny’s understated approach to life off a bike.

This sporting superstar is not one to show off, so do not expect any appearances soon on I’m a Celeb, Strictly Come Dancing or Bake Off.

Kenny jokes he would be “rubbish” at dancing, camping or baking and “would go out first if it was a popularity contest”. And besides, there is still more treasure to loot.

There are the Commonwealth Games next year in Birmingham, the Glasgow World Championships in 2023 and then perhaps a fitting finale at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The golden couple — Jason is 33, Laura is 29 — have both returned to training as British Cycling relocate their base from Manchester to Derby.

It had been assumed following his history-making keirin run in Tokyo — an unprecedented seventh Olympic gold and ninth medal overall  — that Kenny was set to hang up his blazing saddles.

Yet two months ago, he ticked a  simple box on a British Cycling admin form that gave the strongest hint he plans to ride at the next Games.

I said, 'I will . . . for now’. And that’s the most commitment you get out of me.

Kenny, speaking as he launched his HUUB JK9 line of performance kit, said: “Everyone is always trying to get you to commit to something in sport.

“We have to fill in a form at the end of October if you’re going to commit for the next Olympics cycle.

“It said on the form, ‘Is your intention to try and go to Paris?’. I said, ‘I will . . . for now’. And that’s the most commitment you get out of me.

“I mean, Chris Hoy retired at 36. We’re different people but it’s possible.

“Bradley Wiggins and Jason Queally both went late into their 30s. So it’s not impossible. It just depends what we do family-wise and personally. Laura and I do everything together.

“I love track cycling. I’ve realised that. Stepping away after Rio, it was quite hard to leave it completely behind.”

That extraordinary solo missile run on the final day of the Olympics capped a glorious finish to another successful Games for Team GB.

As a household the Kennys have 12 gold medals — Laura has five — and there are plans to make a clock face.

Once the Games ended, the two went on a much-needed break with four-year-old son Albie.

There was Disneyland Paris, a  holiday in Majorca plus a trip to Legoland before the schools restarted.

Kenny said: “You put so much off pre-Olympics. Even little things, stupid things. I mean, I like cutting the grass.

“It was nice to get home and be  normal, spend time in the garden, go out on bike rides.

“Albie has his chickens — he has named them after girls in his class.”

Without wishing to count chickens here, it would be unsurprising if the pair are omitted from the New Year’s Honours List.

Given that the couple both have CBEs, a knighthood and damehood would be a fitting way to recognise their stellar achievements.

Kenny said: “We’re lucky. We’ve been to the Palace a few times now. It’s nice to take your parents and the family.

“It’s amazing to go down there and to walk in the room you see on the TV in Buckingham Palace. Everything like that is really cool.

“But I know they aren’t handing them out willy-nilly with gold medals.

“Would a knighthood change me as a person? I don’t see why. You still put your socks on every morning. You think becoming Olympic champion might change stuff. It doesn’t. It’s the same.

“Having kids definitely changes your perspective and that helps motivation.

“I don’t want Albie’s dad to be sat around the house. My dad used to work, he used to work seven days a week at one point.

“Plus he was dead useful at doing stuff. I see that as a role model.”

Jason Kenny was speaking at the launch of his new HUUB JK9 Line of performance Cycle Wear at Derby’s Velodrome. For details visit huubdesign.com

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