34 Facts About Victoria Pendleton

Victoria Pendleton is a former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion.

Victoria Pendleton represented Great Britain and England in international cycling competition, winning nine world titles including a record six in the individual sprint, dominating the event between 2005 and 2012.

Victoria Pendleton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to cycling.

Victoria Pendleton rode her first race, a 400m event on the grass track at Mildenhall Cycling Club's Fordham Sports Day and Grass-Track meeting at nine.

Victoria Pendleton showed her promise at 13 and was spotted three years later by the assistant national track coach, Marshal Thomas.

Victoria Pendleton enjoyed some success on the track as a student before graduating and becoming a full-time cyclist.

Victoria Pendleton won one bronze and three silver medals in the British National Track Championships in 2001, while still a student.

Victoria Pendleton again came fourth in the sprint at the 2003 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Stuttgart and the 2004 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.

Victoria Pendleton ranked 2nd overall in the World Cup for the sprint in 2004, winning the World Cup event in Manchester.

Victoria Pendleton won her first major medal with gold in the sprint at the 2005 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.

Victoria Pendleton became the third British woman to become a cycling world champion in 40 years.

Victoria Pendleton crowned the year by being named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year for 2007, becoming the first cyclist to win the award in its 20-year history.

Victoria Pendleton was voted Sports Journalists' Association's sportswoman of the year for 2007.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Victoria Pendleton won the gold medal in the sprint.

Victoria Pendleton retained her title in the sprint at the 2009 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszkow.

At the 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Championships Victoria Pendleton won a silver in the team sprint, a bronze medal in the sprint and finished seventh in the keirin.

At the 2011 European Track Championships Victoria Pendleton won the team sprint and keirin titles, but only came eighth in the sprint.

Victoria Pendleton fell in the first heat of the semi-final against Meares.

Victoria Pendleton recovered to win a gold medal in the keirin.

Victoria Pendleton set a new Olympic record of 10.724 seconds in the qualifiers of the sprint but lost in the final to Anna Meares, after being controversially relegated in the first run and being beaten in the second run, earning a silver medal.

In March 2015, Victoria Pendleton announced her intention to become a jockey with the aim of competing at the Foxhunter Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, with guidance from horse trainer Paul Nicholls.

Victoria Pendleton made her competitive debut in August 2015, finishing second in the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Riders' Handicap at Ripon riding Royal Etiquette.

On 18 March 2016, Victoria Pendleton, again riding Pacha Du Polder, achieved her ambition of participating in the 2016 Foxhunter Chase, at Cheltenham, outperforming many pundits' expectations by finishing fifth.

Victoria Pendleton described the result as "probably the greatest achievement of my life".

Victoria Pendleton featured on the cover of the July 2009 issue of men's magazine FHM.

Victoria Pendleton featured in the January 2012 issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine.

In February 2012, Halfords released a Victoria Pendleton branded range of women's bikes including the Somerton, the Initial the Brooke and the Dalby on which Victoria Pendleton herself had worked as a design consultant.

Victoria Pendleton was a "brand ambassador" for Pantene hair-care products in the advent to London 2012.

Victoria Pendleton was a contestant on series 10 of Strictly Come Dancing, in which her professional partner was Brendan Cole.

At the 2014 Conservative Party Conference, Victoria Pendleton introduced the Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan before her keynote speech on 30 September, speaking about the importance of sport in education.

In 2016, Victoria Pendleton partnered with Clinique, joining as a Difference Maker for the Clinique Difference Initiative, with an aim to inspire women and support the provision of educational and healthcare support.

In July 2018, Victoria Pendleton announced the break up of her marriage.

In 2019, Victoria Pendleton competed on Channel 4's SAS Celebrity SU2C, "Who Dares, Wins" series.

Victoria Pendleton was accused of creating a "toxic atmosphere" during the filming of ITV's "Don't Rock The Boat" in November 2020 by crew mate Craig Charles.