Victoria Pendleton

Victoria Louise Pendleton, CBE (born 24 September 1980) is a British jockey and former track cyclist who specialised in the sprint, team sprint and keirin disciplines. Pendleton represented Great Britain and England in international competition, winning nine world titles including a record six in the individual sprint competition, dominating the event between 2005 and 2012. Pendleton is a former Olympic, European and Commonwealth champion. In 2012, she won the gold medal in the keirin at the 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as silver in the sprint. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to cycling. As a gold medalist at European, World and Olympic level, Pendleton is also a member of the European Cycling Union Hall of Fame. With two gold medals and one silver, Pendleton is one of Great Britain's most successful female Olympians. 2Early life Victoria Louise Pendleton, and her twin brother Alex James Pendleton, were born on 24 September 1980 at Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England, to Max Pendleton, a keen cyclist and former British National 8km grass track cycling champion, and Pauline M. Viney. She also has an older sister, Nicola Jane. 2Career 3Early years 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 nin