WALES star George North admits he is the one who now has to keep up with his Abergavenny girlfriend Becky James after she became a double world track cycling champion on the weekend.

While one half of the sporting celebrity couple was helping his side to a hard earned 26-9 win over Italy in Rome, the other was making history in Belarus by becoming the first British rider to win four medals at the World Track Championships.

She won two golds in the keirin and sprint with North, a Grand Slam winner last season and a favourite to make the summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, hugely proud of his partner’s achievements.

“She has done awesome, she works so hard and she is so focused,” the 20-year-old North Walian said. “We bounce off each other and she is growing at the moment and hopefully I can keep my side of the bargain!”

Some teammates have suggested his achievements have been eclipsed by hers with Wales’ Newport-born captain Ryan Jones tweeting: ‘what’s it like being the second best sports person in your relationship?!’ “I’ve had some standard banter from the boys – you’ve seen Ryan Jones’ tweets,” North said.

He continued: “It’s a huge achievement. She’s worked hard for it and she’s taking everything in her stride.”