sports
Victoria Pendleton: ‘At school I discovered the traits that make an Olympic champion do not make for a popular teenage girl’
The athlete on the joy of receiving her first bike, her lonely teenage years, and a life-changing phone call
TL;DR
- Pendleton's father introduced her and her twin brother to cycling, which became a cherished family hobby and a source of therapy.
- School segregation and the limited opportunities for girls in sports highlighted the unfairness of the 'real world' compared to her supportive home environment.
- Her competitive nature and confidence, crucial for athletic success, made her an outcast during her teenage years, contributing to social difficulties and OCD.
- A call from the British Cycling Federation at 16 launched her professional cycling career, though imposter syndrome lingered for years.
- Despite facing criticism about her size and perceived lack of seriousness, she achieved world championship titles.
- The transition to retirement was challenging, marked by a sense of lost identity, but she found solace in extreme sports like climbing, surfing, and later horse racing and motorcycling.
- The death of her twin brother in 2023 inspired her to explore the confidence derived from their shared childhood and embrace new, thrilling activities.