At 16, she was told she didn’t have the champion mentality. This didn’t stop her from winning gold.
After being introduced to track cycling by her father, Victoria Pendleton was told she was too emotional to compete. But coming from a competitive household, she decided she was going to prove her peers wrong. Because Victoria had tenacity. She gave 100% of herself to the sport. She let everything else go. She got up every day and tried to be better than the day before. Every training effort, every performance, every moment was dedicated to her goal. By winning two gold and one silver medal in the Olympics, Victoria didn’t just exceed expectations. She became one of the UK’s most successful female Olympians of all time. She became the best track cyclist in the world.
After winning Olympic gold in the London 2012 Olympics, Victoria retired on top of her game. But competing at the highest level proved to be a difficult contrast to life after transitioning out of the sport. Hit with the nostalgia of crowds roaring, adrenaline rushing, Victoria struggled to feel like a champion. She had felt the highest of highs, but also the lowest of lows. And she didn’t see herself as the superhero she was. Plagued by self-doubt, Victoria was diagnosed with severe depression.
Yet, she always tried to be better. She kept pushing. Her tenacity didn’t just make her the best in the world, it also made her open up about her mental health struggles. Letting others know that it is okay to not be okay. Now a horse rider and adventurer, Victoria has found her footing after her world-class performances. A Victoria without track cycling. A Victoria with purpose and determination. A Victoria who is always learning and up for trying new things.
