The Commission
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Victoria Pendleton b.1980
Victoria Pendleton was encouraged to cycle by her father, a national grass-track cycling champion. She rode her first grass-track race at the age of nine and her talent was recognised six years later.
After graduating from university she became a full-time track cyclist. Pendleton was selected to ride for Team GB in Athens 2004. She has since won gold medals in individual and team events. At Beijing 2008 Pendleton won a gold medal in the individual sprint event and in 2010 won the individual title at the World Track Cycling Championships for the fifth time. She will defend her title at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
‘As a kid I always wanted to be really good at something. I needed to almost validate my worth. I always enjoyed sport, and my dad was successful and competitive. That’s what I wanted to emulate. Cycling was an avenue’ Victoria Pendleton
