Victoria Louise Pendleton, CBE, OLY (born 24 September 1980) is a British jockey and former track cyclist who specialised in the sprint, team sprint and keirin disciplines. She is a former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion. With two Olympic gold medals and one silver, Pendleton is one of Great Britain's most successful female Olympians.
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. In 2008 she won the sprint in the Beijing Olympics, and in 2012, she won the gold medal in the keirin at the London 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[5] and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to cycling.[6][7] As a gold medalist at European, World and Olympic level, Pendleton is also a member of the European Cycling Union Hall of Fame.
- ^ Majendie, Matt (8 August 2012). "New track queen Laura Trott eyes Victoria Pendleton's crown". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013.
- ^ "'Queen Victoria' delighted to abdicate". Yahoo! News. 7 August 2012.[dead link]
- ^ a b c "Victoria Pendleton – Olympic Record". British Olympic Association. Archived from the original on 7 February 2008.
- ^ "'Queen Victoria' delighted to abdicate". Yahoo! News.[dead link]
- ^ "No. 58929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2008. p. 21.
- ^ "No. 60367". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2012. p. 24.
- ^ "2013 New Year's Honoura" (PDF). Retrieved 29 December 2012.